W. H. PEABSOX, AET. 82.
Recollections a
of To
WITH
y
Recollections and Records
of Toronto of Old
WITH REFERENCES TO BRANTFORD,
KINGSTON AND OTHER
CANADIAN TOWNS
;BY
W. H. PEARSON
TORONTO
WILLIAM BR1GGS
1914
NORTH YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.
MAIN
Copyright, Canada, 1914
By W. H. PEARSON
PREFACE
WHEN conversing with friends I have
sometimes referred to my early days in
Toronto and the great changes which have
taken place in the city since then. I have
often been told that I should put my recol
lections in permanent form, but have hesi
tated undertaking to do this, partly because
several books have already been written
regarding Toronto of Old, notably Dr. Scad-
ding s valuable and interesting book by that
title, Mr. J. Ross Robertson s " Landmarks
of Toronto," covering a great deal of ground
and containing a vast amount of useful and
interesting information, and Mr. C. C.
Taylor s "Toronto Called Back," also
containing a good deal of interesting matter.
After careful consideration I decided that
I would make an attempt to write my recol
lections, believing that I could add some
thing new, interesting and of some value,
and in some cases from a different viewpoint
3
PREFACE
from what had already been written and
under the belief that it was a duty I owed
to the community. I also felt that if I was
to write anything it was about time that I
did so, having entered upon my eighty-third
year.
In my early days I had especially favor
able opportunities for securing information
and becoming acquainted with the people of
Toronto, having been a clerk in the Post
Office for seven years, from 1847 to 1854,
and consequently brought into contact with
a very large portion of the residents. As a
matter of fact I knew every person of any
prominence in the city, and having a good
memory, cultivated by my long training in
the Post Office, learned and can still recol
lect the Christian and surnames, firms and
residences of nearly all of the business and
professional men of the city and of many
others within the time named. After leav
ing the Post Office I was in the service of the
Gas Company for the long period of fifty-
four years, and was thereby kept in touch
with the public. I have also a clear recol
lection of the topography of the city in the
PREFACE
forties and fifties. Of course I have had
to draw information from various other
sources, and must here express my appre
ciation of the kindness of those who have so
readily furnished information not obtain
able from records available to me and to
whom hereafter I have made personal
acknowledgment. I have covered a good
deal more ground that at first intended, as
one thing suggested another and subjects
which I considered would prove interesting
and of some value continued to present
themselves.
I have also considered it desirable to pre
sent some statistical statements showing the
progress and changes which have taken
place during a number of years, not only in
Toronto but in some other places in Canada,
which I have been enabled to do from having
the records in my scrap-books and also hav
ing some old directories and almanacs. I have
personally checked all the calculations and
figures in these statements and have veri
fied the dates referred to. As far back as
1853 I commenced keeping a record of the
deaths of those with whom I was personally
5
PREFACE
acquainted, as well as of a number of prom
inent men, with their ages, residences, causes
and dates of death, and have kept it up until
the present time. The list now contains
nearly thirty-nine hundred names. It seems
a very strange thing to have done, and I
hardly know why I commenced keeping it
possibly because the keeping of statistics
and records is one of my hobbies. How
ever, it certainly has been admonitory and
has proved to be of some practical use in the
preparation of this material.
I do not claim any literary merit for these
" recollections " my first attempt at writ
ing anything forj, publication, excepting
Companies Eeports and a few letters to the
newspapers but have simply endeavored
to give a plain, clear, reliable, consecutive
and somewhat comprehensive account of the
conditions and progress of the city, some
important events in its history, a few bio
graphical sketches, some illustrations and
portraits and the statistical statements
referred to, with the hope that all may
prove of some value and interest to the
public.
6
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTORY ..... 11
II. GENERAL DESCRIPTION .
III. THE WATER-FKONT . .26
IV. KING STREET ... .40
V. WELLINGTON STREET (formerly Mar
ket) 44
VI. CHURCH STREET ... .49
VII. DUKE AND DUCHESS STREETS . . 53
VIII. QUEEN (formerly Lot) AND COL-
BORNE STREETS .... 56
IX. ADELAIDE AND LOMBARD (formerly
March) STREETS . .63
X. RICHMOND STREET 75
XI. FREDERICK AND GEORGE STREETS . . 79
XII. WEST MARKET SQUARE, JARVIS, TO
RONTO AND VICTORIA STREETS . . 90
XIII. YONGE STREET ... .93
XIV. BAY, YORK AND SIMCOE STREETS . 103
XV. THE ISLAND 112
XVI. THE DON RIVER 115
XVII. RELIGIOUS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 119
XVIII. THE MILITARY AND POLITICAL CON
DITIONS 128
XIX. KINGSTON 133
XX. TORONTO IN 1843 142
CONTENTS
CHAPTEB PAGE
XXI. THE PBOGBESS or THE CITY . . 148
XXII. THE GBEAT FIRE OF 1849 . . . 155
XXIII. A DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY IN 1850 . 157
XXIV. THE NATIONALITIES . . . .163
XXV. BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS . . 168
XXVI. THE POST OFFICE . . . .175
XXVII. THE TELEGRAPH . . . .185
XXVIII. THE VESSELS, AND THE ONTARIO, SIM-
COE AND HURON RAH- WAY . .190
XXIX. THE GAS COMPANY .... 200
XXX. LITERATURE, Music AND ART . .209
XXXI. THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS . 220
XXXII. LIQUOR DRINKING . . . .233
XXXIII. A GENERAL VIEW OF THE CHUBOHES
IN THE FIFTIES .... 240
XXXIV. ST. JAMES CATHEDBAL . . .254
XXXV. OTHER CHURCHES . . . .271
XXXVI. EARLY METHODIST CHURCHES . 283
XXXVII. MARCH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH . 295
XXXVIII. THE RICHMOND STREET WESLEYAN
METHODIST CHUBCH . . . 300
XXXIX. THE REV. JAMES CAUGHEY AN
APPRECIATION 316
XL. THE REV. DR. DOUGLAS AN APPRE
CIATION 333
XLI. THE METROPOLITAN CHUBCH . . 342
XLII. THE YOUNG MEN S CHBISTIAN ASSO
CIATION 353
XLIII. TORONTO OF TO-DAY . 359
8
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
W. H. Pearson .... Frontispiece
Toronto in 1834 15
Toronto Fish Market, about 1840 ... 31
Toronto Harbor, about 1840 .... 33
St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church ... 48
Jesse Ketchum 95
Harte s School 143
Knox Church . . . . . . . . 149
Toronto in 1854 . . .- 157
Copper Coins in use in the Forties . . . 178
R. F. Easson 187
John Harvie 193
F. C. Capreol 199
E. F. Whittemore and Richard Yates . . .208
Holy Trinity Church 271
Richmond Street and Adelaide Street Churches 300
Rev. James Caughey . . ... 316
Recollections and Records of
Toronto of Old
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
IN writing my recollections of Toronto I
have thought that it would be interesting to
refer to some incidents, personal and other
wise, prior to the time of my coming to the
city.
My father, Thomas Pearson, was for a
number of years a member of Lloyds (insur
ance), London, England. Attracted by
favorable reports of Canada, he decided to
emigrate there and take up farming. He
kept a diary, from which I learn that he
embarked on the ship President* for New
York, at Spithead, on the 5th July, 1834,
leaving my mother and myself in England,
until he could provide a home for his family
in Canada.
There were on board six ladies and twelve
* A vessel of the same name foundered at sea about
ten years afterwards and was never heard of.
11
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
gentlemen first cabin passengers, regarding
whose characteristics he gives his opinion
very freely. On the whole they seem to have
been a very sociable company and to have
passed the time in a pleasant manner.
There was a piano on board, and several
concerts and other entertainments were
given to relieve the tedium of the long sea
voyage. The following is a programme of
one of the entertainments:
FIRST PART.
SONG " Weel May the Boatie Row "
Mr., Mrs. and Miss Watson.
SONG - - Mr. Stroud.*
Swiss AIR - Miss Watson.
COMIC SONG " The Browns " - Mr. Green.
DUET - " 0, Come to Me when Daylight Sets "
Mr. Stroud and Miss Watson.
SOLO PIANOFORTE Mrs. Watson.
SECOND PART.
SONG - Miss Watson.
SOLO PIANO Mr. Pelicolos.
SONG Love Not " - - Mr. Stroud.
SONG - " The Drover s Song " - Miss Watson.
SONG - Mr. Inglis.
SCENE FROM " MACBETH "
Mr. Pearson and Miss Pelham.
" Giles Scroggins " - Mr. Watson.
" God Save the King " By all the Company.
* Mr. Stroud was the clergyman who conducted the
services on the ship.
12
OF TORONTO OF OLD
After one of these concerts the diary says :
" All on deck half-past ten ; sea smooth as
a lake and moon shining with brilliancy and
splendor; steerage passengers had posses
sion of the quarter-deck and seemingly as
delighted and happy as villagers at a fair.
When we got on deck a crowd promenaded
like a masquerade."
Every Sundav church services were con-
*/ tf
ducted in the cabin by Mr. Stroud, who was
a minister of the Established Church, and
on the deck for the steerage passengers by a
youth (a Baptist), apparently about twenty
years of age, with whose addresses my father
w T as much impressed and said that he
attracted much more attention than the
clergyman. This youth had with him a
party of about twelve young people.
There was some gambling as to the time of
the ship s arrival (somewhat similar to
what goes on at the present time) . The jour
nal says : " Paid Mr. Hales twenty shillings,
he to pay me one shilling a day until we
arrive at New York." And again : " Lottery
established by issuing tickets from the 4th
to the 18th August, both inclusive, each pas-
senger to pay one dollar per ticket, dated
the day of our arrival at New York gains
fifteen dollars. Mine being the 4th August,
I sold it for sixpence/
13
BECOLLECTIONS AND KECOBDS
The weather seems to have been generally
favorable. The meals are described as being
" excellent." With the exception that a man
was lost overboard the voyage appears to
have been a very pleasant one. With regard
to this tragedy my father writes : " About
6 p.m. aroused by the cry of a man over
board. The ship immediately put back, but,
it blowing heavily, ten minutes elapsed
before she could be wore round, when we
must have been a mile and one-half from
where the poor fellow was lost. When we
proceeded back every eye strained in search
of him, but, alas! in vain. Encumbered
as he was by a heavy Flushing coat of
his own, if he were an excellent swimmer he
would be soon overwhelmed in those wild,
rolling waves. The scene was so desolate
and dreary, one can scarce imagine it, and
when our unfortunate fellow-creature found
his death-bed his struggles must have
been short in a fearful contention with the
mighty element. He was not seen for longer
than three minutes the ship at the time
going from eight to nine miles an hour; and
when we returned, retracing the track, we
sought in vain to discover the fated being,
and in half an hour the ship was again pur
suing her wonted course. This event threw
a sad gloom over the ship."
14
OF TORONTO OF OLD
On reaching New York my father stopped
at a boarding-house in a locality the situa
tion of which he says was " delightful/ and
the private houses " so excellent that it
made one feel as if they were scarcely out
of England." From New York he went by
boat to Albany, and was much impressed by
the beautiful scenery of the Hudson; then
from Albany to Utica by stage and from
thence to Oswego by canal-boat. From
Oswego he took the steamer America ( which
he describes as being " miserable " ) for
Toronto, touching at Rochester, and arriv
ing at Toronto on the 25th August, where he
stopped for several days at the Ontario
House. The second cholera epidemic was
then raging, the first having been in 1832,
In both of these visitations large numbers
were carried off.
It was in this year (1834) that the name
of the city was changed from " York " to
" Toronto," and of which the following ref
erence regarding the change will doubtless
be found interesting:
According to Dr. Scadding, in his intro
duction to "Toronto of Old," the district
between Lake Simcoe and Lake Huron
appears to have been commonly known as
the " Toronto region." The river Severn
was the " Toronto river " and Lake Simcoe
16
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
the " Toronto lake." " The chain of lakes
passing south-eastward from the neighbor
hood of Lake Simcoe and issuing by the
Trent river into the Bay of Quinte is also
the Toronto river, or lake chain, and again
the Humber ... is likewise occasion
ally called the Toronto river " ; the inference
being " that the Severn river, the Trent
chain of lakes and the Humber were each of
them a commonly-frequented line of water
communication with a Toronto region (a
well-peopled district) a place of meeting
the haunt of numerous allied families and
friendly bands." I have referred to this
because the name " Toranto " is printed
exactly on the site of the present city in a
map of North America " drawn from the
latest and best authorities, by Thomas
Kitchin," being one of the maps of " a new
geographical, historical and commercial
grammar,* and present state of the several
* The following are the estimates in the Grammar
of the population of some American cities: Quebec,
from twelve to fifteen thousand; Montreal, nearly as
large as Quebec ; Halifax, fifteen or sixteen thousand ;
Boston, eighteen thousand, and New York from
twelve to fifteen thousand.
Here is a description of one of the animals said to
be found in Canada: " There is a carnivorous animal
here called the carcajou, of the feline or cat kind,
with a tail that Charlebois says he twisted it several
times around his body. Its body is about two fet
in length from the end of the snout to the tail. It is
16
OF TORONTO OF OLD
kingdoms of the world," by William Guth-
rie, published in London, 1771. This is
evidence as to the correctness of Dr. Scad-
ding s statements. The name of the town
was changed to " York " in 1793 to please
King George the Third as a compliment to
his soldier son, Frederick, Duke of York. As
we all know, the name was changed back to
the more pleasing one of "Toronto " in 1834.
On the 30th of August my father went by
steamer from Toronto to Oakville (Port
Credit?), where he met Mr. Frederick Chase
Capreol, an old friend of his in England,
by whom he was conveyed to his log house.
He returned to Toronto ; then went to Ham
ilton by boat, and from thence to Brantford,
where with some friends he visited the
Mohawk Church. He then proceeded with
Mr. Capreol to Simcoe and Vittoria.
He bought a two-hundred-acre farm from
a Mr. Always in Oxford West, being lot
number two in the fifth concession of Zorra,
a short distance from Beechville and Wood
stock, for nine hundred and fifty dollars, on
which he built a log house, twenty -eight feet
front by eighteen feet deep, containing two
said that this animal, winding himself about a tree,
will dart from thence upon the elk, twist his tail
around his body and cut his throat in a moment!"
This will be something interesting for our naturalists.
2 17
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
rooms. On several occasions he seems to
have ridden from Zorra to Toronto on horse
back, and his diary contains statements of
a number of transactions and records of the
temperature, which he appears to have taken
very regularly. Mr. Always was, with Dr.
Duncome, returned as a member of the
Legislature for Oxford on the llth of
October.
The following year ( 1835 ) my mother and
aunt, with myself and infant brother, joined
my father in Canada. The passage across
the ocean to New York took about six weeks.
I do not remember by which route we went
from New York to Rochester, but from
Rochester to Lockport we travelled by
canal-boat. The only incidents I can remem
ber are of things that frightened me a fire
close to the hotel where we were staying in
New York, an alarm of fire in Rochester,
and the flooding of the canal-boat by the
lock gates having been opened too soon, by
which we were nearly drowned. We crossed
from Lewiston to Toronto by the steamer
Traveller., on what I subsequently learned
was her maiden trip. She was afterwards
converted into a man-of-war.
My next recollections are, when I was
about four years old, of my father placing a
gun upon my shoulder to shoot at wild
18
OF TORONTO OF OLD
pigeons I pulling the trigger; of visiting
the woods where they were making maple
sugar, and of a horse running away with
me in the cutter, in which niy father had
left me while he went into a neighboring
house.
As might be expected my father having
always lived in a city, having had no experi
ence in farming and being close on fifty
years of age, and my mother and aunt feel
ing deeply the loss of the society, comforts
and luxuries to which they had been accus
tomed he did not long remain in Zorra,
and in 1836 sold his farm and moved into
Brantford, where he leased the Mansion
House Hotel. There, late in 1837 or early
in 1838, a battalion of the Seventy-third
Regiment was quartered and remained until
May in 1839. It was in this regiment that
the great Duke of Wellington commenced
his career as an ensign on the 7th March,
1787. The officers all lived at the hotel and
the soldiers were billeted amongst the
inhabitants. The commanding officer was
Colonel Markhaiu. I also can distinctly
remember some of the other officers. I went
to a theatrical performance which they gave
in a vacant warehouse. Amongst other
entertainments they arranged a grand ball
in the hotel ball-room.
19
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
From my father s ledger I find that Major
Magrath with two other officers and nine
men, Captain Denison and detachment,
Colonel Sir A. N. MacNab, staff and band,
were in Brantford in 1838 and that Sir
George Arthur (the Lieutenant-Go vernor)
with his suite were there in September of
the same year and again in January, 1839.
Captain Denison, I believe, was the grand
father of Colonel Denison, our Police Magis
trate. Visits are also recorded in 1839 of
Colonel Burrows and officers of the Tenth
Militia and of other militia officers from
time to time, also of Lieutenant-Colonel Reid
and eight other officers of the Thirty-second
Regiment, then stationed in Toronto. Brant-
ford seems to have been quite a rendezvous
for the military men.
Considerable fear of an attack by the
rebels was evidently entertained, as the
flooring on one side of the bridge crossing
the Grand river was removed.
It was while in Brantford that I first saw
lucifer matches used, light having hitherto
been obtained by the use of a tinder-box. I
find that matches, which were of a very
crude kind, were first used in England in
1830, but did not come into general use for
a considerable time after.
20
OF TORONTO OF OLD
I have a clear recollection of the topo
graphy and of a number of the prominent
residents of Brantford at that time.
Amongst the residents was Mr. Ignatius
Cockshutt, who died in 1901 at the age of
eighty-eight years. I heard a conversation
between two men, one of whom said to the
other that the population of Brantford was
then two thousand, and that he remembered
when it was only fourteen hundred.
I went to a school there kept by a Miss
Gait, and had for a schoolmate Mr. Maun-
sell B. Jackson, who is just one day younger
than I am (whereof he boasts), and who
afterwards attended the school of Mr.
Thomas H. Harte, on Church Street,
Toronto, of which I was a pupil. Mr. Jack
son is living at " Drumsnab," in Rosedale,
not far from where I live. He is still hale
and active, and daily attends to his duties
as Clerk of the Crown and Pleas at Osgoode
Hall.
21
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER II.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
MY father, with his family, removed from
Brantford to Toronto in the summer of
1839. I remember that we came from Ham
ilton to Toronto by the steamer Britannia,
Captain Colclugh.
I have no record of the population of the
city at that time, but it must have been
about twelve thousand, the population in
1836 being 9,652, and in 1842, 15,336.
Roughly speaking, the boundaries of the
city extended, east and west, from the River
Don to Spadina Avenue,* and north and
south, from Front Street to Crookshank
Street (now Wilton Avenue). Yonge Street
was closely built up on the east side as far
as Shuter Street and fairly well built up
from Shuter to Gerrard Streets. Church
Street was built up on the east side as far
as Queen Street, with a number of scattered
residences north as far as Gerrard Street.
There were also a few houses on James,
Terauley and Elizabeth Streets.
* In 1833 the eastern boundary of the town was
Parliament Street and the western Peter Street.
22
OF TORONTO OF OLD
The business sections were Front Street,
from Church to George Street ; King Street,
from York to Caroline Street (now Sher-
bourne), and Lot Street (now Queen), from
Spadina Avenue to Yonge Street. The prin
cipal business centre was King Street from
George to Bay Street. The principal resi
dential streets were Front, part of Peter
and Duke Streets, Front Street being really
the most attractive residential street. There
was no Esplanade until about 1855. A bank
from fifteen to twenty feet high, and in front
of Sir Richard Bonnycastle s about thirty
feet high, extended the whole length of the
waterfront, from the foot of Berkeley Street
to the Queen s Wharf, with a pebbly beach
at the margin of the bay. There were only
two or three buildings on the south side of
the street. There were a few trees here and
there on the top of the bank. I remember
two hickory trees at the foot of Yonge Street
near the present Custom House from which
I used to knock down nuts.
Even at this time, and in fact as far back
as when Toronto was called by its detractors
" Muddy Little York," there were those who
were proud of its stability, attractiveness
and rapid growth and had high expectations
regarding its future. The following glow
ing description, reminding one of the pro-
23
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
spectuses of the present-day land specula
tors, taken from the preface to Walton s
Directory of York of 1833-34, probably
voices the general feeling:*
" When it is considered that forty years
ago the site of York and the whole country
to the north and west of it was a mere wil
derness, the haunt of the savage and of
beasts hardly more savage, that sustained
him in being, the splendid marks of grow
ing opulence which everywhere surround
him must strike the spectator with wonder
and admiration and certify to his mind that
he beholds the nucleus of a great and power
ful Empire, f
* This directory is both an alphabetical and street
directory. It contains a list of the Lieutenant-Gover-
nors from 1792, a list of the members of the Executive
Council, Legislative Council, House of Assembly, their
constituencies and its officers (the members from the
rural constituencies being paid 10s. ($2.00) per day
during the sitting of the House, while the members
from towns were not paid anything). It also contains
a list of the heads and employees of the various Gov
ernment departments, a list of the clergy of the
various religious bodies in the Province and where
located; also of the town s educational institutions,
benevolent and other societies, banks, the post offices
in Canada and the rates of postage, besides a good
deal of other information. It appears from the direc
tory that tavern licenses cost 11 5s. ($45) per annum
and shopkeepers liquor licenses 5 3s. 8d. ($20.73)
per annum.
t The population of the Home District (now the
county of York) in 1833 was 47,655, exclusive of the
town of York, whose population was 8,731.
24
OF TORONTO OF OLD
" York, from its locality being the focus
to which converges the produce of an exten
sively surrounding country of immense fer
tility, thickly settled by a robust and indus
trious population, blessed with a salubrity
of climate which braces and invigorates the
human frame and stimulates to and sweet
ens labor, and being withal the seat of gov
ernment, whence is diverged the retributive
and enriching streams of a rapidly increas
ing revenue, .has acquired an impetus in a
career of prosperity, to which it would be
difficult to assign bounds.
" In whatever direction the eye of scrutiny
be turned, it luxuriates in the solid evi
dences of a well directed industry, and from
the precosity of enterprise everywhere pre
eminently conspicuous in efforts to inspire
with life and activity our inexhaustible
fund of now inert wealth, mechanically con
veys to the mind anticipations of future con
summations calculated to illustrate even the
brightest pages of future histories of com
merce."
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER III.
THE WATER-FRONT.
<
The wharves at the time were Small s, at
the foot of Berkeley Street; Maitland s, at
the foot of Church Street; James Brown s,
near the foot of Scott Street; Yonge Street,
owned by a company ; Tinning s, at the foot
of York Street; Dr. Reese s, at the foot of
Simcoe Street, and the Queen s, at the foot
of Bathurst Street.
The water-front presented a very much
more attractive appearance than it does
to-day. Since there was no esplanade and
only a building here and there on the south
side, there was an unbroken view of the bay
and the island.
PALACE AND FRONT STREETS.
The eastern part of Front Street to the
market was called Palace Street. There
were several residences east of Parliament
Street, between the end of Parliament
Street and the windmill, one of which was
occupied by Mr. Henry Latham, barrister.
There were quite a number of houses in the
vicinity and beyond the windmill, between
26
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the Don and Palace Street, where fever and
ague were very prevalent owing to the
proximity of the marsh. On the south-east
corner of Parliament and Front Streets
(the present site of a portion of the Gas
Works ) , was a large square brick building,
the residence of Enoch Turner, brewer, then
surrounded by extensive grounds in which
there w r as an orchard.
The first Parliament Buildings were
erected on the site of a portion of the works
of the Consumers Gas Company, between
Berkeley and Parliament Streets. They
were projected in 1794 and finished in the
period intervening between Governor Sim-
coe s departure from the Province in 1796
and the assembling of Parliament in 1797,
under the Presidency of the Hon. Peter
Russell. The buildings were two modest
one-storey forty by twenty-five feet frame
buildings one for the Assembly and the
other for the Legislative Council. They,
with the library, were destroyed by the
Americans on the taking of the town in
1813. Appended is a copy of the inscription
on the tablet placed on the coke office of
the Consumers Gas Company on Front
Street :
" This tablet marks the north-east corner
27
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
of the first Legislative Building of the Pro
vince of Upper Canada, completed in 1797
under Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe. Burned
by the American troops April 27th, 1813.
Here also stood the second Legislative
Building 1818-1824 accidentally burned,
1824. Also the Toronto Gaol 1840 to 1860."
On the north side, and a little to the
west of Berkeley Street, was the attractive
residence of Doctor the Honorable Chris
topher Widmer, the eminent physician, the
acknowledged head of the profession, wide
and favorably known throughout the Pro
vince, and who, as a surgeon, had been in
active service in the Peninsular campaign.
He was below medium height, spare but
erect; in manner very decisive, quick and
somewhat abrupt. There is a very good
portrait of him in the General Hospital.
On the opposite side of the street was the
fair green, where cattle shows were held
and where the militia went through their
annual drill. Small s wharf was at the foot
of Berkeley Street and was a favorite swim
ming-place for the boys. On the west of
Dr. Widmer s residence were three two-
storey buildings, two of which were occu
pied by Thomas Collier and John Angel
Cull of the Canada Company. " Russell
Abbey " ( the former residence of Hon. Peter
28
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Russell, President of the Provincial Gov
ernment and successor to Governor Simcoe) ,
was situated between Ontario and Princes*
Streets. The house was built in 1777 and
according to the standard of the time was a
rather fine-looking residence. It was a frame
one-storey building with wings, with gables
facing to the south. Why it was called
Russell Abbey is not clear. It was inhabited
by a negro family named Truss about fifty
years ago and was torn down a number of
years since.
Between Ontario and Princes Streets
was also the pretty vine-covered cottage of
Mrs. Stowe, mother of F. P. Stowe, of the
Bank of Upper Canada, and Alfred Stowe,
afterwards manager of the Gore Bank,
Hamilton. One of her daughters mar
ried Mr. William Proudfoot, President of
the Bank of Upper Canada, and the other
to William H. Stanton, solicitor. On the
corner of George Street was the large rough
cast residence of George Monro. Mr. Monro
was one of Toronto s prominent citizens. He
carried on a large wholesale grocery busi
ness at the south-west corner of King and
George Streets in a building which is still
standing. He was Mayor of the city in 1841,
in which year he was an unsuccessful candi-
* Erroneously called " Princess " Street.
29
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
date for Parliamentary honors, he and the
Honorable Henry Sherwood, Conservative,
being defeated by Messrs. Dunn and
Buchanan, Reform candidates. In 1844 he
was elected as member for the south riding
of York. He moved from the above house
before 1850, when it was converted into the
Black Horse Hotel (still standing), after
which time he resided on Wellington Street,
near John Street. He was the original
owner of Monro Park, in the eastern end of
the city. He died on the 5th January, 1878,
at the age of seventy-seven years.
Between George and East Market Streets
were several small stores, one of which was
the grain and provision store of Mr. Mason,
who, with his sons, Messrs. W. T., Herbert,
Alfred and T. G. Mason, came to Toronto in
1842.
The Market occupied the same position
as a portion of the present one. It was a
red brick structure forming three sides of a
square, the City Hall on the north being the
fourth. The butchers shops were arranged
on each side, the lower end being for dairy
produce. There were several archways with
gates giving access to the square, where the
farmers disposed of their produce from their
wagons. Over the butchers shops and on
the south side facing the street were ware-
30
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
houses and offices, one of which was subse
quently occupied by the Water Works Com
pany. Following along west of West Market
Street were several brick buildings occupied
by Messrs. Benjamin Thorne and Company,
wholesale provision and grocery merchants.
( This firm subsequently became Thorne and
Parsons.) Mr. Thorne was for some time
President of the Toronto Branch of the
Montreal Bank.
Next to these buildings was the City
Hotel, a wooden building, kept by John
Hutcheson. Opposite the City Hotel was
the fish market, on a level space of ground
on the south side near the water-front,
where fish of various kinds could always be
obtained at very reasonable prices. There
were several buildings between the hotel
and the corner of Church Street, one of
which was occupied by Junius Slaughter, a
barber, a colored man about four feet in
height and quite a notable character.
On the corner of Front, Church and Wel
lington Streets and the beginning of what
was called the " Coffin Block " (on account
of its shape), was the stage office of William
Weller, who lived in Cobourg and ran a line
of stages from Hamilton to Montreal.
Another stage proprietor at this time was
Charles Thompson, whoso stages ran from
31
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Toronto to Holland s Landing. Mr. Thomp
son lived near the city reservoir at " Sum-
merhill," which was more recently the resi
dence of the late Dr. Larratt W. Smith.
Adjoining was the wholesale house of the
well-known firm of Messrs. Isaac Buchanan
and Company. The next building was the
residence of Mr. William Arthurs, father of
the late Colonel William Arthurs and
George Arthurs, and who had a distillery
on the other side of the River Don. The
next building, a small cottage, was the
Customs House.
Between Front and Wellington Streets
stood the wooden residences of the Widow
Stinson, John Grantham, livery stable
keeper, and John Whitlam, pumpmaker.
West of these was the large brick residence
of Captain Hugh Richardson. The Captain
was a fine-looking, typical English gentle
man of much energy, public spirit and enter
prise. He owned a line of steamers, includ
ing the Transit and Queen Victoria, and
subsequently the Chief Justice Robinson, all
of which plied between Toronto and Queens-
ton. The Chief Justice Robinson had a
peculiarly shaped bow with a projecting
beak low down on a level with the water,
and was designed by the Captain with the
idea that the bow would offer less resistance
32
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
to the water and enable the vessel to obtain
a greater rate of speed, but it did not accom
plish what he had expected, and no other
vessel has since been constructed of the
same design. Captain Richardson s wife
was a most attractive elderly lady. They
had a family of five sons (three of whom
navigated the vessels) and three daughters,
one of whom married Mr. Samuel Sherwood,
who was for some time in the grocery busi
ness and subsequently Chief of Police for
Toronto and who afterwards became Harbor
Master. He was the father of Colonel Sher
wood, Chief of the Dominion Police, Ottawa.
As we lived next door to Captain Richard
son I often saw the members of the family
sitting on the porch (amongst them Mr.
Sherwood with his fiancee), and together
they formed quite a picturesque group. The
three sons, Hugh, Henry (usually called
" Dad ") and Charles, who sailed the vessels,
each wore a hat with a gold band, a blue
jacket with brass buttons and wide white
duck trousers, a regular sailor style.
The next building was the North Ameri
can Hotel (where the wholesale establish
ment of John Macdonald and Company now
stands) . To me it seemed a very high build
ing. I used to go up to the flat roof, where
a view of the whole city could be obtained,
3 33
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
and on a clear day the opposite shore of the
lake was quite visible. It was a large four-
storey building and the principal hostelry in
the city. Connected with the hotel at the
corner of Scott and Front Streets was a
one-storey building, which was used for ball
and assembly rooms and occasionally as a
theatre. I think this building at the time
was the only available one for theatrical
performances in the city. On the opposite
corner and facing Scott Street (the site of
the present British American Assurance
Building) was an attractive little cottage,
with a small orchard of choice fruit trees
on the corner of the street, the home of
Steadman B. Campbell, a lawyer and a well-
known character. He was a tall, handsome
man and very active, the son of William
Campbell, proprietor of the North American
Hotel. Further on there were three two-
storey brick buildings, in one of which
resided Judge the Honorable Livius P. Sher
wood, and in another David Gilkison, hus
band of the organist in St. James Cathedral.
On the south side and a little east of Yonge
Street wharf was the soap and candle fac
tory of Peter Freeland, afterwards Freeland
and Taylor.
At the north-east corner of Yonge and
Front Streets was a three-storey brick build-
3-1
OF TORONTO OF OLD
ing, subsequently the American Hotel, and
on the opposite corner, facing Yonge Street
and a little back from the street, the Post
Office, a one-storey frame building, in front
of which were a number of posts with chains
between them, on which other boys and
myself were accustomed to swing. Back of
the Post Office and facing Front Street
stood a large brick building, the residence of
Mr. Berczy, the Postmaster, and following
on, a three-and-one-half-storey brick build
ing in which resided Joseph Rogers, the
hatter, and subsequently Judge Jonas Jones.
On the north-east corner of Bay and Front
Streets was the very fine commodious brick
residence of Honorable Robert Baldwin, and
on the south side, and opposite Bay Street,
were the Royal Floating Baths, built by Mr.
Cull. The following is an advertisement of
these Baths in the Citv Directory of 1837 :*
V 9j
" THE ROYAL FLOATING BATHS OF THE CITY
OF TORONTO.
" These baths have been erected bv Mr.
.
Cull of this City ; they are one hundred and
ten feet in length and twenty-one feet in
* This directory, in addition to an alphabetical list
of the inhabitants of the city, contains a list of the
post offices and postage rates of Canada, Customs
duties, Act of Incorporation of the city, aldermen and
corporation officers, population of the city, officers
35
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
width, and contain ten warm and ten cold
baths, with vapor and shower baths. One
end is exclusively appropriated to ladies,
with a private entrance from the gallery
outside and leading to an elegant drawing-
room adjoining a promenade deck eighty
feet long with a dome roof, and trellis-work
guards all round. It is capable of accommo
dating two hundred persons and so con
structed that the additional weight of three
hundred will not depress the bath one inch.
There are reading and refreshment rooms
for both ladies and gentlemen, fitted up in
the best possible style. These baths are
highly creditable to the city from point of
appearance and not less so as to their
utility."
The construction of these baths evidenced
the enterprise of Mr. Cull,* but they do not
and members of the fire engine and hook-and-ladder
companies, stages and stage routes, steam packets
and schooners, Bible Society and other religious and
philanthropic institutions, literary society, clubs, hor
ticultural societies, officers of the Board of Trade,
national societies, colleges, banks and newspapers of
Toronto, list of the ministers of the various Churches
in Upper Canada; judges, sheriffs, attorneys, barris
ters, medical men, members of the Executive and
Legislative Councils and House of Assembly of Upper
Canada; and a complete directory of the Home
District, besides other information.
* There were two Cull brothers, Edward Lefroy, a
clerk in the Canada Company, and John Angel, who
36
OF TORONTO OF OLD
seem to have been a paying proposition, as
they were not in use some eight or ten years
after, excepting as dressing-rooms for the
Baptists, who were immersed in the bay at
the foot of Bay Street.
A little beyond the Floating Baths, on the
south side, was the residence of John Tin
ning, whose wharf was at the foot of York
Street. Some considerable distance from
the north-west corner of Front and Bay
Streets and in the centre of extensive orna
mental grounds was " Holland House," the
residence of the Honorable Henry John
Boulton, by whom it was built in 1831. It
was usually called " The Castle," as it
resembled one. Mr. Boulton was Solicitor-
General for Upper Canada, and in 1833 was
appointed Chief Justice of Newfoundland.
The only other residence between Bay and
York Streets was that of Dr. Deihl, a long
two-storey building standing well back to
Wellington Street. On the other side of
York Street was the " Cottage," an orna
mental residence with a number of gables,
the home of Captain James M. Strachan,
must have been the proprietor of the baths, although
it does not give his Christian name in the advertise
ment. He was a man of much energy and enterprise,
and afterwards built and operated a starch factory.
The father, James Cull, was the editor and proprietor
of the Albion of Upper Canada newspaper.
37
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
son of Bishop Strachan. His wife was a
daughter of Chief Justice Robinson. The
Captain was for many years Secretary of
the Toronto Club and a notable society man.
In the centre of a square bounded by
York, Simcoe, Front and Wellington Streets
stood the Palace of the Bishop of Toronto.
This was a handsome, large, w T ide two-storey
building of red brick, somewhat resembling
" The Grange," the home of the late Dr.
Goldwin Smith. The extensive grounds
were surrounded by a high brick wall, the
bricks for which I was informed were
imported from England. Then followed the
Parliament Buildings in the centre of the
square bounded by Front, Wellington,
Simcoe and John Streets.
At the north-west corner of Front and
John Streets stood a small hotel called the
" Greenland Fishery," kept by Edward
Wright, a well-known citizen, and further
on the " Halfway House," halfway between
the Garrison and the City Hall, where the
soldiers " refreshed themselves on their
way to and from the city. The sign bore the
legend :
" Within this hive we re all alive
Good liquor makes us funny;
If you be dry, step in and try
The flavor of our honey."
38
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Evidently not a few of the soldiers
accepted this invitation, and being over
come by the powerful flavor of the " honey,"
had to spend their nights in the guard
house.
On the east corner of Peter Street stood
a large roughcast building, the residence of
the Honorable George Crookshank, and on
the south side and a little west of Peter
Street, on a bluff about thirty feet high and
surrounded by trees, the residence of Sir
Richard Bonnycastle (who was formerly
the commanding officer of the Royal Engin
eers), the grounds of which were quite
extensive. Back of the bluff, and concealed
from view, was a bathing-place where the
boys used to have a fine time and where I
learned to swim. The only other residence
between Peter and Bathurst Streets was
that of the Honorable John Henry Dunn.
It was either a sexagonal or hexagonal
building, a good deal back from the street.
This was subsequently one of the officers
quarters of the regiments stationed at the
old fort.
39
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER IV.
\
KING STREET.
MR. J. Ross ROBERTSON, in his " Land
marks of Toronto," has given so full a
description, accompanied by drawings, of
the various buildings on this street that I
think it unnecessary to give any detailed
account of them excepting in a few
instances.
On the south-west corner of King and
Berkeley Streets was " Berkeley House,"
the residence of Charles C. Small, Clerk of
the Crown. The building is still there. On
the opposite side were three brick buildings
(still standing), one of which was occupied
by the Honorable James E. Small. Farther
on, on the north side, was the large double
residence of Thomas Helliwell, now a lodg
ing-house, and on the south-east corner of
King and Frederick Streets the office of the
Bank of British North America,* which
building still remains. This building was
* Since the removal of the Bank the old structure
has been utilized for various purposes, and according
to a notice placed on the building, is about to be taken
down to give place for a warehouse.
40
OF TORONTO OF OLD
erected and opened as a general store by the
Honorable William Allan, father of the late
Honorable G. W. Allan, about the year 1818.
In 1822 it was occupied by the Bank of
Upper Canada, which had obtained a char
ter in 1819 and of which Mr. Allan became
President and Thomas Gibbs Ridout,
Cashier. The Bank of British North
America was moved in 1843 to the handsome
cut stone edifice on the north-east corner of
Yonge and Wellington Streets, of which Mr.
J. G. Howard was architect. This building-
was subsequently taken down and replaced
by one of greater altitude and more in
accordance with the buildings of other
banks.
On the north-east corner of King and
Frederick Streets was the large brick resi
dence of John S. Baldwin, which later on
was for a considerable time the office of the
Canada Company. This, Mr. Robertson
says, in his " Landmarks of Toronto," was
the first brick house in Toronto, and was
erected in 1807 with brick made in England.
On the south side and midway between
Frederick and George Streets was the whole
sale and retail store of William Proudfoot,
President of the Bank of Upper Canada
(still standing). On the south-east corner
of King and George Streets stood the gro-
41
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
eery of George Monro (still there). There
was a row of substantial brick buildings
between George Street and the Market, but
between the Market and Yonge Streets, on
the south side, they were, with a few excep
tions, IOW T wooden buildings. In fact the
same may be said with regard to the build
ings on the south side between Church and
Yonge Streets ; the exceptions that I remem
ber being the establishments of William
Musson, tinsmith, the grocery of Messrs.
Smith and Macdonell, and the dry goods
store of Robert Cathcart, at the corner of
Leader Lane and King Street, of which the
Honorable William McMaster was the mana
ger at that time, and on the opposite corner
the grocery of K. M. Sutherland. On the
north side, between Church and Toronto
Streets, were the Wellington Buildings,
erected a short time previously, and between
Toronto and Yonge Streets a few more brick
buildings. There were brick buildings on
three of the corners of Yonge and King
Streets the one on the north-east corner
being the hardware store of Ridout Brothers
and Company, and on the south-west corner
the wholesale and retail dry goods store of
A. Lawrie and Company; and the Commer
cial Bank, a three-storey brick building, on
the south side between Jordan and Bay
42
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Streets, subsequently the woodenware store
of Angus Dallas and later on the Globe
office; then the Bank of Montreal, a three-
storey brick building on the north-west cor
ner of Bay Street; a number of wooden
buildings between it and Simcoe Street, and
the well-known Shakespeare Hotel on the
east corner of York Street ; Chewetts Build
ings on the south-east corner of York Street;
the Government House on the south-west
corner of Simcoe Street, and the Upper
Canada College on the north side west of
Simcoe Street.
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER V.
WELLINGTON STREET (FORMERLY
MARKET STREET}.
ON the north-west corner of Market and
Church Streets was the " Ontario House,"
subsequently the Wellington Hotel. It was
a large three-storey wooden structure with
high columns and a verandah, with exten
sions on Church and Henrietta Streets. The
proprietors of the Ontario House until it
became the Wellington Hotel were William
Campbell, Mr. Deering, my father (from
1839 till 1841 ) , and later on John Hutche-
son and David Botsford. On this hotel, as
well as the North American, a bell was fixed
in a frame on the top of the roof, which was
rung half an hour before dinner-time in
order to notify the guests. On the west side of
the hotel a small lane called Henrietta Street
ran from Wellington to King Street where
the Albany Club building now stands. On
this lane, which was generally in a muddy
and filthy condition, were two or three mis
erable, dilapidated wooden houses and a
small cottage in a somewhat better condi-
44
OF TORONTO OF OLD
tion, all being occupied by widows. A son
of one became one of onr principal dry goods
merchants ; of another, a manufacturer, and
of another, the proprietor of one of the larg
est livery establishments. Two of these
widows kept cows on the premises, and in
the morning these cows were taken out to
the Garrison Commons west of the old fort
by the sons to graze and brought back by
them in the evening.
West of this lane was the livery stable of
John Grantham, whose wife was an officer s
widow and whom the boys held in consider
able awe. Mr. Grantham had a goat which
was allowed to roam at large. The animal s
beard, which was longer than that of a Jew
ish patriarch, gave him a very venerable
appearance, and when he stood on his hind
legs prepared for an attack he was a gro
tesque-looking object. Amongst other bad
habits he had the reprehensible one of giving
people a surprise by an attack from the rear.
As boys were his pet aversion, I generally
gave him a pretty wide berth. What with
the goat, the stable and the cow-sheds close
by in the rear of the houses on Henrietta
Street, the neighborhood, as Mrs. Malaprop
would say, was quite an odoriferous one.
Mr. Grantham was a quiet, taciturn old
Englishman. He had a thick head of
45
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
darkish hair with a white patch on the back
of his head.
Between the livery stable and what is now
the Imperial Bank was what was called
" The Big Field," about one hundred and
fifty feet square, in which circus perform
ances were held and where in the tan-bark
ring the boys afterwards practised their
tumbling.
On the west side of the field and some dis
tance back from the street was a large
double house with a garden in front contain
ing some ornamental trees and beautiful
flowers, the residence of a Mr. McDougall,
which was afterwards converted into a
restaurant kept by Henry L. Beverley, and
subsequently became the residence of the
postmaster. The delivery department of the
Post Office was in an extension built in the
front. Farther along the street, on the east
side of Scott Street (which was not then
opened) , were several wooden buildings, and
beyond the line of Scott Street, back near
the line of Colborne Street, the stables of the
North American Hotel. There were also a
few wooden houses between Scott and Yonge
Streets.
On the south side, between Yonge and Bay
Streets, stood a large double wooden build-
46
OF TORONTO OF OLD
ing, a Ladies School, kept by the Misses
Skirving, afterwards the residence of Mr.
F. C. Capreol. Mr. Robertson, in his " Land
marks of Toronto," gives a very interesting
history of this house and some of its former
occupants.
Farther on, near the corner of Bay Street
and situated back some distance from the
street in a very large lot, was the cottage of
Mr. Andrew Mercer, who was for many
years the issuer of marriage licenses. Mr.
Mercer was a very kindly old gentleman
with a retiring disposition. He accumulated a
great deal of wealth, and having died intes
tate considerable trouble arose with regard
to the distribution of his estate. It was
from a portion of the proceeds that the
Mercer Reformatory for Women was built.
Between Bay and York Streets was a
large brick stable with a high gateway, the
back entrance to Holland House. A large
i>
three-storey brick building stood on the
north-east corner of Simcoe and Wellington
Streets, the residence of Mr. Justice Hager-
man. The Honorable John Crawford after
wards lived there, and later on the building
was occupied by the Department of the
Attorney-General of Ontario. On the north
west corner were the grounds of the Govern-
17
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
ment House, now occupied by the Canadian
Pacific Railway, and on the south side the
grounds of the old Parliament Buildings,
now occupied by the Grand Trunk Railway.
My recollection is not clear as to the
buildings west of John Street.
ST. AXDKKW S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Erected 1831.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER VI.
CHURCH STREET.
ON the west side of Church Street between
the Ontario House and Market Lane (now
Colborne Street) stood a couple of wooden
buildings. North, between Market Lane
and King Street, was the Bond Head Hotel,
the sign being a picture of Sir Francis Bond
Head, kept by a Mr. Bell, a very large man,
usually called " Big Bell," and beyond the
hotel a small wooden structure. Between
King and Adelaide Streets (formerly New
gate) were the Court House, Fire Hall, and
on the corner St. Andrew s Church, the foun
dation of which was laid by Mr. Thomas
Carfrae, Junior, on June 24th, 1830. It
was a plain brick building, seventy-five by
fifty feet, plastered to represent stone and
designed by Mr. J. G. Howard. The orig
inal trustees were Messrs. James F. Smith,
Thomas Carfrae, Jr., John Ewart, Hugh
Cai-f rao, Walter Rose, Alexander Murray
and Jacob Latham. The first minister was
the Rev. William Rintoul, the second Rev.
William T. Leach, and the third the Rev.
Dr. John Barclay, who was the pastor in
4 49
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
1839 and continued as such for twenty-eight
years. The congregation was a very influ
ential one. Amongst its members were a
considerable number of prominent citizens
judges, members of Parliament, lawyers
and merchants. The Rev. D. J. Macdonell
succeeded Doctor Barclay and on the build
ing of the new St. Andrew s Church on the
corner of King and Sirncoe Streets went
there with the majority of the congregation,
only fifty-eight of the old members remain
ing in the church. In 1876 the Rev. G. M.
Milligan, of Detroit, was called to the pas
torate. The old church was subsequently
sold and a new church (known as Old St.
Andrew s) built at the corner of Jarvis
and Carlton Streets, with the Rev. G. M.
Milligan as its pastor.
Between Adelaide and Lombard Streets
(then March) there were some two-storey
brick buildings, most of which are still
standing. On the north-west corner of
Church and Lombard was a large stone
building covered with plaster, which is still
standing. This I understand was the first
stone building erected in Toronto and had
been the dwelling of several important
people. Subsequently it was a tavern and
now is a junk shop. Between this and Rich
mond Street (formerly Hospital) were two
50
OF TORONTO OF OLD
or three wooden buildings. On the north
west corner of Richmond and Church
Streets was the residence of Dr. Telfer, and
further up Harte s School (which has just
been demolished). On the corner of Queen
Street (then Lot) was Dr. King s surgery
and residence, which has been converted
into a banking office. Between Queen
and Shuter Streets was the McGill Square,
in the centre of which was a roughcast
cottage, the residence of James McCutcheon,
brother of the Hon. Peter McGill.* All
the district above this on the west side
was fields. I gathered strawberries on
the site of the Roman Catholic Cathe
dral and beechnuts on what is now the
Normal School Square and shot a wild
pigeon near the corner of Gould Street. In
the forties and well on in the fifties, during
the summer months, immense flocks of
pigeons in their migration flew over the out
skirts and sometimes the city itself, and
everybody who had a gun took advantau"
of the opportunity to shoot them. I hav
seen quite a number of men and boys firing
at them near Mr. Allan s property on what
is now Shuter Street, since there was then
no prohibition against discharging firearms
* Mr. McGill, who assumed his surname for a
special purpose, was formerly a McCutcheon.
51
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
in the citv. One of the amusements of the
e/
day was shooting nighthawks, and the foot
of Church Street was quite a popular place
for this sport.
On the east side, between Front and King
Streets, were several wooden buildings;
between King and Adelaide Streets the
grounds of St. James Cathedral, and
between Adelaide and Lombard Streets
some wooden buildings, one of which was
the confectionery shop of Mr. Wilson, a
popular place with the schoolboys, and
which is still standing. Mr. Wilson was
a prominent Orangeman and a local cele
brity. On the south-east corner of Rich
mond and Church Streets was the grocery
of Mr. Lailey (still standing) and on the
opposite corner the residence of John Bell,
barrister. On the south-east corner of
Queen and Church Streets stood the resi
dence of Robert James (who later on had
a pail factory just below his residence
and subsequently became manager of
the city Bank of Montreal), and between
Queen and Shuter Streets an orchard. On
the north-east corner stood the pretty little
cottage, with a flower garden in front, of
Mr. Logan, the gardener, and between this
and Gerrard Street were scattered a few
wooden buildings.
52
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER VII.
DUKE AND DUCHESS STREETS.
DUKE STREET.
Ox the north side, at the corner of Duke
and Parliament Streets, stood a brick build
ing, the residence of John Radenhurst, land
agent (afterwards that of his son-in-law,
Alexander Grant), and next to it the large
brick mansion of Jacob Latham, a promin
ent builder, afterwards the residence of Dr.
John Small and subsequently that of the
Hon. M. C. Cameron. The first building
between Sherbourne Street (then Caroline)
and George Street was the residence of
Colonel George Duggan, a very pugnacious
old gentleman, and at the rear was a large
orchard. My family lived here for a short
time in 1841 before moving to Kingston. A
few doors west was the residence of Thomas
D. Harris and next to this a brick mansion,
the residence of Lady Campbell, widow of
Sir William Campbell, Chief Justice of
Upper Canada, who died in 1834. (The
building is still standing.) The next struc
ture was the roughcast residence of Mrs.
53
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Campbell s son, William A. Campbell, bar
rister and Clerk of the Assize Court. On
the corner of Duke and George Streets stood
the Bank of Upper Canada, a substantial
stone building (now somewhat altered the
Catholic Brothers School), of which Mr.
Win. Proudfoot was President, Thomas G.
Ridout, Manager, and R. G. Anderson, a
very nervous, testy old gentleman, the Chief
Teller. Some of the clerks were Messrs.
Alfred and F. P. Stowe, John Mosley, E.
Goldsmith, W. M. Westmacott, Charles S.
Murray and Maurice Scollard. On the
opposite corner was Mrs. Cockburn s Ladies
School, formerly the residence of Mr. Simon
Washburn.
On the south side, between Caroline and
Frederick Streets, were two large three-
storey brick buildings (still standing), and
next to these the orchard of Mrs. John S.
Baldwin. Dr. Scadding and his fiancee
(Miss BaldAvin) often promenaded in this
orchard, and as our house was just opposite
the romance was quite interesting to my
mother and aunt. On the west side of this
orchard were two other large brick build
ings (still standing), one of which was the
residence of Mrs. John S. Baldwin. Mrs.
Baldwin was the mother of the Rev.
Edmund Baldwin, the assistant minister of
54
OF TORONTO OF OLD
St. James 1 Cathedral ; Mr. Morgan Baldwin,
who became a Director of the Gas Company
and Harbor Master ; Bishop Baldwin, whose
Christian name was Maurice, and the Rev.
Arthur H. Baldwin, Rector of All Saints
Church. Morgan and Maurice were guarded
very closely by their mother, and in order
to get out to the street they crept under
the gate, and since the space was quite nar
row, it was not an uncommon thing for them
to have their pinafores in a very muddy con
dition. Miss Shaw, the fiancee of General
Brock, was a sister of Mrs. Baldwin and in
the fifties was a member of the Richmond
Street Methodist Church. I had the pleasure
of knowing her. She was a charming old
ladv and a devoted Christian.
t-
DUCHESS STREET.
The only residence on this street of any
importance that I remember was the old
Kidout homestead on the north side, between
Berkeley and George Streets, surrounded by
extensive grounds running back as far as
Queen Street. I can remember seeing wheat
growing on a portion of this property as late
ts 1857.
55
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER VIII.
QUEEN AND COLBORNE STREETS.
QUEEN STREET.
(Formerly Lot Street.)
THE only building I remember on the
north side of this street, between Parlia
ment and Seaton Streets, was the residence
of Edward McMahon, w^hich was sur
rounded by extensive grounds. Back of
this was nothing but fields and woods.
There were one or two houses near Queen
Street on what is now Seaton Street, one
of which was the residence of J. Doodsly
Humphrey, the music teacher, one of
Toronto s most popular vocalists. Queen
Street East ended at about the line of Sher-
bourne Street, as the property of the Honor
able William Allan extended to Britain
Street, through which Queen Street on the
west side was reached near George Street.
All the property north of Britain Street
between what is now Sherbourne Street and
George Street, the line of which was not
then extended beyond Queen Street, as far
as Bloor Street belonged to Mr. Allan.
56
OF TORONTO OF OLD
" Moss Park," his residence, was a flue, large
and imposing edifice situated about four or
five hundred yards north of Britain Street,
and was taken down a few years since. It
was certainly the largest and most imposing
residence in the city at the time and for
many years after. The entrance to the
grounds was through an avenue running
north from Queen Street. In the rear of the
house, extending as far back as about half
way between Shuter Street and Wilton
Crescent, was a very large orchard, some of
the apple trees of which are still standing
in the yards and lawns of several of the
houses on Pembroke Street, and which a few
years ago were bearing fruit. Back of the
orchard was what might be called the farm,
in which I remember there was a field of
wheat about 1843 or 1844. A large bush,
known as Allan s Bush, extended all the
way from Gerrard to Bloor Streets, many
of the trees of which are still growing in the
Allan Gardens and others in various loca
tions almost as far north as Bloor Street.
There was a deep pool somewhere near the
corner of Sherbourne and Carlton Streets
into which one of my companions threw me,
and not being able to swim I was nearly
drowned. I really do not know the source
of this pool but I certainly have not for-
57
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
gotten the event. Mr. Allan was a digni
fied, military-looking man, rather brusque
in his manner. He had a strong Scottish
accent and when asking for his letters, \vhen
I was a clerk in the Post Office, used to say
to me, " Boy, boy, oighty-oight, oighty-
oight," this being the number of his letter
box, next to Bishop Strachan s, which was
eighty-seven. Mr. Allan was the first Col
lector of Customs for the town of York and
also the first Governor of the British
America Assurance Company, and held
many other important offices. He was one
of our most prominent citizens.
Following on the north side of Queen
Street, a considerable distance back and
facing Jarvis Street (formerly New Street,
then Nelson), in the centre of extensive
grounds extending from the line of Mr.
Allan s property to Mutual Street on the
west, was the residence of Mr. Samuel
Peters Jarvis. Mutual Street was then
what might be called a country lane in
which were numerous trees. East of this
street was Mr. Jarvis orchard and between
the line of Wilton Avenue and Shuter Street
a grove of pine trees known as Jarvis Grove,
in which occasionally Sunday-school picnics
were held. There was a field between
Mutual and what is now Dalhousie Street,
58
OF TORONTO OF OLD
extending as far back as the line of Shuter
Street, which was used as a playground by
the schoolboys and where I often took part
in the games. McGill Square occupied the
space between Church and Bond Streets, and
on the west corner of Queen and Bond
Streets was the dwelling of James Good,
who afterwards built the first engine for the
Ontario, Simcoe and Huron (afterwards the
Northern) Railway. Mr. Good owned four
or five houses on Bond Street adjoining his
own, in one of which my family lived and all
of which are still standing. There were a
few wooden buildings between Mr. Good s
residence and what was then called Upper
George Street (now Victoria). The Colored
Baptist Church, a roughcast building, was
on the east corner. Between Victoria and
Yonge Streets there were also wooden build
ings, in the rear of which was Mr. Good s
foundry. There was considerable vacant
space on the west side of Yonge Street,
which had not been built on late in the
sixties, and at the back of the lot stood
Montgomery s Tavern. A number of build
ings, mostly wooden, stood between Yon.uv
and Sayer Streets (now Chestnut). On the
west of Chestnut Street was the centre
building and east wing of Osgoode Hall, the
west wing not having been built until a
59
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
number of years afterwards. University
Avenue (then called College Avenue) had
been laid out, but the trees were little more
than shrubs. About 1842 a large square
stone structure, which was planned for one
of the buildings of the proposed King s Col
lege, was erected a few hundred yards to
the north-west of the upper end of the
avenue, the architect being Mr. Thomas
Young (under whom I studied drawing).
The building was subsequently used as an
insane hospital and was demolished many
years ago. The rest of Queen Street as far
as Spadina Avenue was then fairly well
built up, most of the houses being wood.
The only building of any prominence that I
can recall was the " Black Bull Inn " on the
north-east corner of Soho Square. The wide
portion of Queen Street between Peter and
Spadina Avenue was originally intended for
a market-place.
On the south side of Queen Street com
mencing at Jarvis Street (then New) there
were no buildings of interest between that
and Church Street. West of Dr. King s
residence on the south-west corner of
Queen and Church Streets were three
three-storey brick houses (still standing),
one of which was occupied by W. C.
Ross, afterwards manager of one of our
60
OF TORONTO OF OLD
first Building Societies; another by Mr.
Baby, and the other afterwards as the school
of Mrs. Henning and Miss Brown, sisters of
the Honorable George Brown. West of
Yonge Street there was a large vacant lot
on which subsequently Knox Church was
built. Following was Win. Langley s shoe
store and next to this the shop of John Hon-
stein, a tailor, who made clothes for me when
he was about ninety-five years old, and who
died at the patriarchal age of one hundred
and eleven. During the last few years of
his life on fine days he was seated at the
door, and looked very much like a mummy.
There were a number of wooden buildings
between here and Peter Street, many of
which still remain, and also the Queen
Street Methodist Church, a small brick
building a little east of Spadina Avenue. A
little west of Spadina Avenue was a rough
cast building, then the residence of Mr.
Robert John Turner, a very able Chancery
lawyer and a close personal friend of my
father. He was the father of the late Frank
Turner and head of the firm of Messrs.
Turner, Gwynne and Bacon. (Mr. Gwynne
was afterwards Sir John W. Gwynne and
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the
Dominion). More recently this was the
residence of the Honorable Donald McDon-
61
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
aid, Assistant Commissioner of the Canada
Company. His wife (Mrs. McDonald) died
last June at Los Angeles, California, at the
age of ninety-two years.
COLBORNE STREET.
(Formerly Market Lane.)
This street only extended from West
Market Square to Church Street. On the
south side, about midway between these
streets, was a well-known hostelry called
"The Dog and Duck," kept by John T.
Smith, usually known as "Dog and Duck
Smith," and who was one of the original
directors of the Consumers Gas Company.
There was also a tavern called the " Tarn
O Shanter Inn," kept by Thomas Aitkin.
The sign of this inn was a picture of Tarn
O Shanter crossing the bridge with the
witches in hot pursuit, one of whom had
hold of his horse s tail.
Opposite, on the north side, was Mr.
Joseph Hodgson s school, a large wooden
building with a belfry. Mr. Hodgson was
a well-known educationalist and subse
quently became one of the Public School
Inspectors.
62
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER IX.
ADELAIDE AND LOMBARD STREETS.
ADELAIDE STREET.
ON the north side, at the corner of Jar vis
Street, was the Central or Free School.
Following west from the corner of Church
Street was a row of brick buildings, which
are still standing, and farther on a few more
brick buildings, which still remain. One of
these houses was the dwelling of Mr. Stoics-
bury, whose soap and candle factory was in
the rear, and who subsequently became the
manager of the Water Works. Immediately
west, and where the Post Office now stands,
was the livery stable of James Mink, a col
ored man and somewhat notable character.
He was a very well-known citizen, a man
of marked individuality, considerable intel
ligence and good business ability. He was
stout and rather fine-looking. He had a
violent temper and used to deal very
roughly with the boys, so that we gave
his place a pretty wide berth. His livery
stable was a large one and he kept a
number of very good horses. He did a large
63
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
business and was reported as being well off.
In addition to his stables he kept a hotel
called the " Mansion House Inn."
He had a daughter who was very black,
though she had good features, was tall and
quite dignified, and attracted considerable
notice. Her father, wishing to improve her
social position, openly stated that he would
give a considerable sum of money to any
respectable white man who would marry
her. By-and-by a suitor came along, won
the heart of Miss Mink and was accepted by
her father, and it was not long before they
w^ere married, and with her the husband
obtained the promised pecuniary considera
tion. He took her for an extended trip in
the United States, and w r hen they arrived at
South Carolina the disreputable scoundrel
cruelly sold his young wife into slavery, and
she being young, healthy and good-looking
brought a considerable sum of money. The
father, on learning of the dastardly trick
played upon himself and his daughter, took
immediate steps to repurchase her and
brought her back to Toronto. Poor Mr.
Mink had to pay very dearly for the coveted
honor of having a white man for his son-
in-law !
On the corner of Victoria Street was the
residence of Robert Fetch, builder. The
64
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Congregational Church, of which the Eev.
John Roaf was the minister, usually known
as " Roaf s Church," was situated on the
north-east corner of Adelaide and Bay
Streets. (Most of the following is a con
densed account from Robertson s " Land
marks of Toronto.") This church was the
first Congregational church in Canada and
was organized in Toronto by the Rev. Mr.
Merrifield, with a membership of seventeen
persons, on the 23rd November, 1834. The
first service was held in the Masonic Hall
on Colborne Street, and the services con
tinued there until they secured the use of
the old Methodist Chapel on George Street.
Mr. Merrifield, in 1836, was succeeded by
the Rev. John Roaf, of Wolverhampton,
England, who was pastor for seventeen
years, and resigned on the 15th June, 1855.
He died on the 2nd September, 1862.
Having outgrown the accommodation on
George Street, a lot was secured and bought
on the north-east corner of Bay and Ade
laide Streets, and a church with a seating
capacity for seven hundred, with a basement
for a Sunday school, brick faced and plas
tered, was erected, and the first services held
on the 1st of January, 1840. This church
was destroyed by fire on the 26th February,
5 65
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
1855. The congregation then worshipped for
a time in St. Lawrence Hall.
A new church of white brick with a seat
ing capacity for about eight hundred was
then erected. The corner-stone was laid on
August 1st, 1855, and it was dedicated
on the 26th September, 1856. The Rev. T. S.
Ellerby was the pastor from the 29th May,
1856, till March, 1866. He was succeeded
by the Rev. J. S. Manly, who was pastor
until 1870. On the 13th February, 1849,
twenty-five members withdrew and organ
ized what is known as Bond Street Church.
These members rented a small roughcast
building, previously occupied by the Episco
pal Methodists, on the south side of Rich
mond Street between Yonge and Bay
Streets. The church was designated the
Second Congregational, the first minister
being the Rev. Archibald Geikie, from near
Sarnia. In the same year the members
bought the old building for f 1,200. Later,
Mr. Geikie having resigned the pastorship,
the church was supplied by students until
May, 1854, when there were about thirty-five
members. They next called and secured the
services of Rev. F. H. Marling from Mont
real. The church was then enlarged and
modernized.
fi6
OF TORONTO OF OLD
In 1863 the lot on which the Bond Street
Church stands was bought for $2,200. The
old church was sold in 1864 and was soon
after occupied by the congregation of the
Catholic Apostolic Church. The corner
stone of the Bond Street Church was laid
on the 8th June, 1863, and the church
opened in December, 1863. The building,
including the furnishings and organ, cost
$14,000. At the end of Mr. Marling s pas
torate in 1875, when he accepted a call to
the Presbyterian Church in New York, the
church roll contained two hundred and
forty names. There was no pastor until
18T7, when Mr. T. W. Hanford was
appointed, who resigned on June 1st, 1880.
The church was dismantled in 1878. The
corner-stone of the present church was laid
on June 8th, 1878, and the church opened
on May 1st, 1879. The entire cost was about
$38,000. Dr. Wild became pastor from 1880
till 1893. During his ministry 497 members
were added, making the total membership
622. The present schoolhouse was erected
in 1888 at the cost of $20,000. The follow
ing is a list of the succeeding ministers:
Rev. Thomas Simms, August, 1893, till 1897;
Rev. Morgan Wood, 1897 till 1900; Rev.
James L. Gordon, July 10th, 1900, till Feb
ruary, 1905 ; Rev. J. B. Silcox, March. 1905,
67
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
till 1907, and the present pastor, Rev. Byron
H. Stauffer, from October, 1907.
The following were the original officers in
the Bond Street Church in 1849 : Deacons,
W. D. Taylor and J. F. Marling; Trustees,
J. F. Marling, E. F. Whittemore, John
Rains and R. Beekman.
The other Congregational churches at the
present time are : Bethany, at the corner of
College and Yonge Streets; Broadview, at
the south-west corner of Mount Stephen;
Dovercourt, at the corner of Salem Avenue
and Shanly Street; Olivet, on Hazelton
Avenue, corner of Scollard Street ; the West
ern, 327 Spadina Avenue ; the Northern, 480
Church Street, near Alexander Street.
Mr. John Doel,* the brewer, resided on
the north-west corner of Bay and Adelaide
Streets, opposite the Congregational Church,
his brewery being in the rear. His house
is still standing. In politics Mr. Doel was
an ardent reformer and at the time of the
Mackenzie Rebellion was arrested with his
eldest son John, on suspicion, but without
cause, so was subsequently released. Mr.
Doel, indeed, was strongly opposed to Mr.
* Mr. Doel s family were in continual fear with
regard to the stability of the spire of the church on
the opposite corner to the east. This spire was blown
down in the windstorm of 1862, causing considerable
damage, but it fell to the east and the house escaped.
68
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Mackenzie s course. His son John was a
very diminutive man about four feet ten
inches in height, very thin but wiry, and
lived to be ninety-three years old. He
became a preacher, first in the Methodist
New Connexion Church and after the Union
in the Methodist Church of Canada. He was
an excellent taxidermist and a good horti-
culturalist but did not excel as a preacher.
It was related of him that when he preached
from the text, " It is I, be not afraid/ and
announced it in a loud voice, he created
quite a sensation. (One of Mr. Doel .s
daughters, Mrs. J. W. Drummond, is still
living at a very advanced age at Mimico. )
On the north-east corner of Adelaide and
Simcoe Streets were Bishop s Buildings,
which are still standing.
On the south side, at the south-west cor
ner of Francis Street, was the Congrega
tional Institute, of which the Rev. Dr. Adam
Lillie was President, and a little further on
a three-storey brick building (still stand
ing), afterwards the boarding-house of Mrs.
Wliilley, and where I boarded for several
years. Mrs. Whitley was an old lady with
two maiden daughters approaching middle
age, who, with the occasional assistance of
" help," managed the establishment. The
house was very plainly furnished, but the
69
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
meals were very fair, the rate for board and
lodging being $2.00 and $2.50 per week.
There were usually about a dozen boarders,
and it was one of the most popular boarding-
houses in the city. Amongst the boarders
was Charles J. Rykert, of St. Catharines,
who was at this time a law student in the
office of Messrs. Wilson and Smith (Hon.
Adam Wilson and Larratt W. Smith), and
was afterwards for many years a prominent
member of the Ontario Legislature and the
Dominion House of Parliament and occu
pied many positions of importance. He
was a very notable character and had
a long and varied career. He was strictly
abstemious and an indefatigable student,
often studying until late in the night
and as early as five in the morning. He
was, even then, a very hot Tory, and hated
the principles of the Radicals (as they were
called), and entertained a strong antipathy
to the Honorable George Brown, to which
he very freely gave expression. He was ener
getic, impetuous and a born fighter, but most
generous and kind-hearted. He and I were
always good friends. I have just noticed
that he passed away at St. Catharines on
December 28th last, at the age of eighty-two.
Some of the others were : Tom Holmes, a
droll North-of-Ireland man of about thirty
70
OF TORONTO OF OLD
years of age, later the subeditor of the
British Colonist, a kind-hearted but rather
touchy fellow and very disputatious, who
afterwards went to Wingham, where he
became a prominent citizen; John Grist,
who was a student with Mr. W. Thomas, the
architect, and afterwards went into part
nership with his brother in Ottawa as
patent solicitor; Harry Horsey, tall and
fine-looking, a student w r ith Mr. J. G.
Howard, architect, who went to Ottawa
and became a prominent architect there,
was the father of the late Doctor Horsey,
M.P., of Owen Sound; - Gordon, a clerk,
fine-looking, good-hearted and a good singer ;
Alfred Rykert, a younger brother of Charles,
a nice, quiet young man, who afterwards
became an officer in the 100th Regiment,
and, occasionally, his brother George, very
sedate, the oldest of the family, and one of
the Provincial Land Surveyors ; Tom Tilt, a
lawyer ; Jim Stimson, an uncle of Col. J. A.
Stimson, a student, morose and irritable,
who used to ridicule and persecute me when
I became a Methodist, for which he, when
he himself became one and a class-leader,
wrote me a letter of apology from Cali
fornia, where he resided; he had only one
thumb, a fact of which he sometimes used to
complain bitterly; - - Hackett, a medical
71
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
student and a quiet, unassuming fellow,
who afterwards practised medicine for many
years in Newmarket; - Clarke, a good
singer, son of Deputy Commissary-General
Clarke; Richard Clarke, a dry goods clerk,
who afterwards became a Methodist minis
terhe kept aloof from the rest of the
boarders and occasionally used to give me
a kindly talking to; later on Mr. Richard
Yates, a Director and afterwards President
of the Gas Company, and with whom Rev.
Mr. Caughey resided while in Toronto; he
was the " star " boarder.
We often had as visitors William and
Cyrus Thomas, sons of Mr. William Thomas,
both of whom afterward became prominent
architects, one in Chicago and the other in
Montreal; and John Boyd, Assistant City
Chamberlain (Treasurer), afterwards of the
firm of Boyd and Arthurs. They came in to
smoke and talk and sing. We had a min
strel club, playing and singing darky songs,
the instruments being a banjo, guitar, fiddle,
sometimes a flute, jawbones and castanets.
We used to make a rare noise. Occasionally
we promenaded the streets singing our
songs, for which we were never molested
by the police. I must say that on the whole
the boarders were a very decent, sober lot
of fellows. It was a very rare thing for
j &
72
OF TORONTO OF OLD
liquor to be used, but sometimes we played
boyish pranks, very much to poor Miss
Whitley s annoyance.
Adjoining this brick building was the resi
dence of Dr. Burnside, the well-known physi
cian, and after whom the Burnside Hospital
is called. Next to this was the rectory of
St. James Cathedral. There were no build
ings between the St. Andrew s Church
(referred to elsewhere) on the west corner
of Church and Adelaide Streets and the
Adelaide Street Methodist Church (referred
to elsewhere) on the east corner of Toronto
Street. On the opposite corner, and nearly
as far as the line of Victoria Street, stood
a wooden building, the hotel of Samuel Gar-
side. Between Yonge and Bay Streets, Ket-
chum s tannery (referred to elsewhere).
Between Bay and York Streets a number of
private residences, some of which had
orchards in the rear.
LOMBARD STREET.
(Formerly March Street.)
On the north side, about midway between
Jarvis and Church Streets, was the Baptist
Chapel, a small brick building with a seat
ing capacity for about one hundred and fifty
people, the only Baptist place of worship in
73
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
the city (referred to elsewhere) ; and mid
way between Chnrch and Victoria Streets
was the brewery of James Hutcheson.
March Street was then and for a consider
able time afterwards the most disreputable
street in the city. It was the slum district
of the time. The houses w r ere nearly all of
wood and many of them in a dilapidated and
unsanitary condition. Fights and brawls
on the street were of frequent occurrence,
and respectable citizens would only go
through it in the night-time with much
reluctance. After the moral conditions of
the street had somewhat improved, and
owing to its previous bad record, the name
was changed to Stanley Street, but it was
still a disreputable locality. After further
improvement had taken place it was again
changed to its present name, Lombard
Street. It is now one of the wholesale
streets of the city, nearly all of the old build
ings having been taken down. One of the
most notable of its denizens was Michael
Dwan, who frequently appeared at the
Police Court and was called the Mayor of
Stanley Street.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER X.
RICHMOND STREET.
THE part of what is now Richmond Street
west of Yonge Street was called Hospital
Street. On the north side of this street,
commencing at New Street (now Jarvis),
there were no buildings of any note before
reaching Church Street. On the north-west
corner of Richmond and Church Streets was
the residence of Dr. Telfer. Following west
of this w r as a row of brick houses, in one of
which resided Mr. E. F. Whittemore, one
of Toronto s prominent merchants and after
wards President of the Consumers Gas
Company. At the corner of Clare Street
stood the large brick residence of Mr.
Thomas Storm, a well-known builder, and
father of Mr. W. G. Storm, architect. On
the opposite corner, where the Sons of Eng
land building now stands, there was a large
wooden building, the residence of Dr. Prim
rose, and farther on the residence of Dr.
John King, which is still standing, but in
a dilapidated condition. On the east cor
ner of Upper George Street (now Victoria)
75
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
was the boarding-house of Mr. Butters, and
on the opposite corner (where the Confed
eration Life building now stands) the house
built by Mr. Colin Drummond, afterwards
for many years the boarding-house of Hum
phrey Elliott, and later on the Maternity
Hospital. Mr. J. R. Armstrong s foundry
occupied the space between this building
and his store on Yonge Street. West of
Yonge Street was the lot on which Knox
Church was afterwards built. A compara
tively small wooden structure was erected
about 1843 at the time of the disruption of
the Scottish Church. This was occupied
temporarily by the congregation of the
Presbyterian Free Church, of which the
Rev. Mr. Harris, who was a son-in-law of
Jesse Ketchum, was the minister until this
time, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Dr.
Burns, who had recently arrived from Scot
land. (One of Mr. Harris daughters, Mrs.
W. Lawrence, is living and resides on
Huntley Street.) An addition facing Rich
mond Street was subsequently built.
I do not recall any buildings of impor
tance until we reach the property and resi
dence of Chief Justice Robinson, called
Beverley House," a well-known, large,
attractive roughcast building, and more
recently the residence of Mr. Christopher
76
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Robinson. Chief Justice Sir John Beverley
Robinson was a prominent member of the
Family Compact, of which Bishop Strachan
was the controlling spirit. He was the
Attorney-General and Chief Justice for
Upper Canada prior to the union of Upper
and Lower Canada. He was one of the most
important men in the country a fine-look
ing man, very erect and of medium stature.
There was a most striking contrast both
in the appearance and characteristics of his
three sons. Sir James Lukin Robinson, the
eldest, was somewhat slightly built, of med
ium height, of a retiring disposition, and
most gentlemanly and condescending in his
manner. The second son, the Honorable
John Beverley Robinson, was a little above
medium height, of splendid physique ; in his
younger days he excelled in athletics and
was considered to be the best boxer in the
city. He was most energetic and aggressive,
and rather brusque in his manner. In addi
tion to having been Lieutenant-Go vernor of
Ontario he occupied many other important
positions. The third son, Mr. Christopher
Robinson, was an able lawyer, tall, slightly
built, with somewhat sloping shoulders,
aristocratic-looking and dignified, always
kind and considerate, and had a most charin-
77
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
ing manner. His voice was rather high-
pitched, but melodious.
On the south side, between Jarvis and
Church Streets, were a number of buildings,
mostly all of wood, with the exception of a
small roughcast building, the dwelling of
Mr. Thomas Bell, a land agent, who was
very well-known in the city and was the
father-in-law of Mr. Thomas H. Lee.
Between Church and Victoria Streets was
the two-storey double brick residence of Mr.
Angus Bethune, brother of Bishop Bethune,
which building is still standing, and follow
ing that the cottage of William Andrews,
the clerk of St. James Cathedral. The
buildings between Yonge and Bay Streets
were small ones and nearly all of wood.
Between Bay and York Streets, a little west
of Sheppard Street, was Gouinlock s School,
which I attended for a short time. Amongst
others I had as fellow r pupils Messrs. Wil
liam Thompson and John Burns, wholesale
merchants, whose store was on Front Street.
There was also the long two-storey rough
cast residence of Daniel Brooke, whose sons
George and Daniel were prominent lawyers
in their day. I have not a very clear recol
lection of the character of the buildings
between York and Peter Streets, at which
latter thoroughfare Richmond Street ends.
78
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XI.
FREDERICK AND GEORGE STREETS.
FREDERICK STREET.
THE only building of any importance on
this street was the office of the Canada Com
pany on the east side between Front and
King Streets. In the forties and fifties Mr.
Frederick Widder was Commissioner of the
Company here and the Honorable Donald
McDonald the Assistant Commissioner.
Mrs. Widder was a very fashionable lady
and was noted for her lavish entertainments
at " Lyndhurst," her residence on Front
Street, west of Spadina Avenue. One of the
clerks of the Company was Mr. John M. A.
Cameron, father of the Honorable M. C.
Cameron (a very pleasant old gentleman),
and he as well as the Honorable Donald
McDonald used to come to the Post Office f or
the Company s letters while I was a clerk
there.
GEORGE STREET.
On the west side of George Street there
were several buildings between King and
79
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Duke Streets,, one of which was the office of
the British America Assurance Company,
and another the residence of Mr. T. W.
Birchall, the manager.
THE GEORGE STREET METHODIST CHAPEL.
As this was one of the oldest Methodist
churches of the city, I have thought it desir
able to give a somewhat extended account
of its history and membership. This church
was on the east side north of Duke Street
and was dedicated on July 14th, 1832, by the
Rev. John Hick, a missionary from England.
It was a frame building measuring about
thirty by sixty feet, weather-boarded, with
an inclined roof like an English schoolhouse,
the gable of which pointed to the west. ( The
church building was afterwards used as an
Orange Hall and subsequently divided and
made into two buildings. ) It is interesting
to note that Sir John Colborne, the Gover
nor of Upper Canada, subscribed 10 (or
$40) towards the purchase of the lot. The
late Senator Macdonald, who was a wor
shipper and member and sometime secretary
of the Sunday school of the church, has fur
nished some very interesting information
contained in the history of " The Methodist
Churches of Toronto," by the late Mr.
80
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Thomas Champion, from which I make some
extracts.
In 1833 the British Wesleyan and Cana
dian Wesleyan Methodists united in one
body, and the preachers frequently alter
nated between the Adelaide and George
Street Churches for some four years. The
Eevs. Ingram Sutcliffe, Thomas Turner,
Egerton Ryerson, Matthew Lang, John C.
Davidson and Joseph Stinson succeeding in
their turn. Regarding most of these minis
ters Mr. Macdonald speaks in glowing
terms, but I must only give a few extracts.
Speaking of Dr. Stinson, who was Super
intendent of Missions for many years and
President of the Conference in 1839-40 and
again from 1858 to 1861, he says : " His min
istry in George Street and his eloquence are
still spoken of with warmth and ener
getic approval by old citizens who once
worshipped there.
" Before the end of 1837 the George Street
Church was closed and the members united
with the congregation worshipping in the
Adelaide Street Church. The George Street
building was then rented to the Ziou Church
Congregational body under the ministry of
the Rev. John Roaf.
" After the stirring events of the Macken
zie riots of 1837, serious disagreements
6 81
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
sprang up between the British Wesleyan
and the Canadian Wesleyan adherents in
respect to matters of public policy, and all
efforts to adjust these differences having
failed the Union of 1833 was dissolved, and
in July, 1840, a large number of the official
and ordinary membership of the church and
congregation separated and reopened the
old George Street Church for service as a
British Wesleyan church in connection with
the English Conference, the Congregational-
ists having meanwhile vacated the building
and erected their new edifice on the north
east corner of Bay and Adelaide Streets.
Amongst the families in this removal were
Mr. Walker, a merchant tailor; Mr. Hamil
ton, the painter and paper-hanger; Messrs.
Storm and Woodsworth, both carpenters;
Mr. Baxter, father of the late alderman ; Mr.
Bowes, afterwards Mayor of the city; R.
Score, tailor ; Mr. Bilton, who carried on the
same business; the Osbornes and Millers;
Mr. Parry, tailor; Mr. Williams, cabinet
maker ; Mr. Armstrong, stove merchant ; Mr.
Hodgins (Hodgson?), schoolmaster; Mr.
Stewart, dry goods dealer; the Clarksons,
Hamiltons, Bulls, AYatsons, Goods, Perkins,
Keoughs, and Mr. Fetch, who built not only
Adelaide Street Church but the old house of
worship on King Street as well ; Mr. Clarke,
82
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the hatter, whose testamentary bequest orig
inated the building of the Old Richmond
Church. Rev. Matthew Richey, D.D. (father
of the ex-Governor of Nova Scotia), and
Rev. Joseph Stinson, D.D., were the joint
pastors of the reorganized British Wesleyan
congregation. The seceding members were
forty in number and were usually called the
forty thieves.
" Preaching services and Sabbath schools
were at once established at Yorkville and
Queen Street West, and small red brick
chapels, cottage-roofed, were built in 1840-
1841 at a cost of about $2,400 each. (A
branch school was formed from the George
Street School at the corner of Duke and
Berkeley Streets, of which Mr. Henry Parry
was superintendent.) The Rev. John G.
Manly occupied the pulpit in 1841. He was
still living (1897) after a remarkable career
of no less than sixty-three years spent in the
ministry and sixty-nine spent in actual
labor, and now resides in his old age amid
the tree-clothed hills of Deer Park. [Mr.
Manly died at Toronto on December 2nd,
1908, at the age of ninety-four years.] The
Rev. John 1*. Hetherington was his succes
sor in the pulpit. His official obituary says :
He was a man of great decisive character,
while h<> was naturally modest and retiring;
83
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
he was firm of purpose, tenderness of feeling
and kindness of manner rendering Ms atten
tions peculiarly acceptable in cases of sick
ness and distress; in social converse he was
both winning and instructive and his bear
ing rendered religion lovely and alluring.
Few men had more friends than he. His
style in preaching was clear, concise and
forcible; his sermons being lively enforce
ments of divine truth. He died on the 16th
January, 1861, in his sixty-second year."
His daughter, Mrs. C. C. Taylor, is still liv
ing and in good health, and is a resident of
Rosedale, Toronto.
Amongst others Mr. Macdonald refers to
the Rev. John B. Selley, M.D., and the Rev.
Dr. Matthew Richey, of whom he says:
" The senior preacher on the circuit was the
Rev. Matthew (afterwards Dr.) Richey.
When it was claimed that he was the most
eloquent preacher in the city, the statement
is one which will not be questioned. He was
an Irishman. He must have been then about
forty years of age; of fine person, voice so
full, deep and musical that it might well be
said to be phenomenal. Faultless as a
reader, it was a rare treat to hear him read
the Word of God; his pulpit efforts were
marked by a solemn and devotional spirit;
his prayers were in striking contrast to the
84
OF TORONTO OF OLD
hasty, irreverent manner which character
izes the approaches of so many in our day
to the Throne of Grace. Little wonder that
his name at that time would attract as many
as the building would hold, and more."
Eeferences are also made to the Revs.
W. M. Harvard, D.D., Robert Cooney, John
Bredin and John Hunt. Further references
are made to the members " of the old George
Street Church," which had " a noble army
of local preachers, class and prayer leaders
and earnest workers, among whom can be
remembered Richard Woodsworth, Alexan
der Hamilton, John Rogers, Charles Ramm,
Samuel Shaw, Jonathan Dunn, James
Price, Henry Leadley, Thomas Storm,
Joseph Wilson, William Osborne, George
and Thomas Bilton, John Sterling, Thomas
Clarke, Henry Parry, J. Purkiss," and John
Macdonald (late Senator) and many others.
" Among other members of the church and
congregation were Thomas Clarkson, Robert
Hawke, Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Butt, James
Butt and the Graingers."
Mr. Macdonald speaks very enthusiastic
ally regarding the choir, which was led by
a Mr. Booth, and amongst the members of
which was the late Alderman Baxter.
" There were several violins, one or more
85
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
flutes, a violoncello and other instruments;
and there was no better singing in the city."
Further on Mr. Macdonald states : " Noth
ing can give a better insight into the char
acter of these men than the position of Meth
odism to-day. Not in this city only, but in
this Dominion, for while I do not desire to
take from any other agency one hair s-
breadth of what it may be entitled to claim
in the beginning, but this development, yet
greater far than that of any other, was the
power and influence that was exerted in the
1 Old George Street Church. It was to the
George Street Church that every other
church in the connexion looked. Its action
determined the action of the others ; the best
men in the body filled its pulpits and minis
tered to its people. It was from George
Street that the church removed to the Rich
mond Street Church, the l Cathedral of
Methodism/ which, more than any church
in its day, was the centre of great evangel
istic gatherings."
I found the following interesting record
in the minute-book of the committee of the
Sunday school of the church, called " The
Journal of the Committee of the British
Wesleyan Methodist Sabbath School Society,
Toronto " :
86
OF TORONTO OF OLD
" At a meeting held on the 25th January,
1841, amongst other resolutions it was
resolved that the first anniversary meeting
of the British Wesleyan Methodist Sabbath
School Society be held on Tuesday evening,
the 9th February, in the City Hall, if per
mission could be obtained from the city
authorities, and that the Society and friends
of the institution take tea together on that
occasion, admission to which shall be
obtained by ticket at two and sixpence each.
Teachers half price."
The following is a somewhat amusing
account of the meeting, evidently written in
the Secretary s best style : " In pursuance of
the foregoing resolution, the children of the
George Street, Duke Street, Lot Street and
Yorkville schools, amounting to about four
hundred, assembled in the George Street
Chapel at twelve o clock on Tuesday, the 9th
February, and after receiving a very affec
tionate address from the President of the
Society (the Rev. Mr. Riehey) proceeded to
the City Hall, where arrangements had been
made for regaling them with tea. At six
o clock of the same evening the members and
friends of the Society assembled in the same
spacious apartment and took tea together.
The hall was tastefully fitted up with the
banners of the national societies and pre-
87
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
sented a very pleasing appearance. The com
pany was the largest and most respectable
that had ever assembled in Toronto on a
similar occasion, the number being about
four hundred and fifty, amongst whom were
his Worship the Mayor (George Munro,
Esquire) and family.
" After tea the company were entertained
by the choir of George Street Chapel with a
few beautiful and appropriate pieces of
sacred music. The business of the anniver
sary meeting was then commenced, when
W. B. Jarvis, Esquire, Sheriff of the Home
District, was requested and kindly consented
to take the chair.
" The chairman opened the meeting with a
brief but very appropriate address in which
he expressed the high gratification he had
experienced in the former part of the day in
witnessing so large an assemblage of Sun
day school children, and assured the meet
ing that he would always feel pleasure in
contributing to the support of so laudable
and praiseworthy an institution as the Sab
bath school. As requested, the secretary of
the Society presented the report of the com
mittee, which being read was received and
adopted, after which several resolutions
were proposed and very ably supported by
the following gentlemen, viz., J. H. Hagarty,
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Esq. [afterwards Chief Justice], Alderman
Dixon, Mowat, Esq. [afterwards Sir
Oliver Mowat], Rev. M. Richey and Messrs.
Hamilton, Osborne and Bilton.
" The office-bearers were then reappointed
for the ensuing year. The business of the
meeting being now brought to a close, the
choir struck up admirably the national
anthem and the company dispersed, every
person seemingly highly gratified with the
manner in which the business had been
conducted. The sum realized was .
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XII.
WEST MARKET SQUARE, JARVIS,
TORONTO AND VICTORIA
STREETS.
WEST MARKET SQUARE AND JARVIS* STREET.
ON the east side of Market Square was a
hotel kept by a Mr. Botsford and afterwards
by George Platt. Between King and Duke
Streets there were three three-storey brick
buildings, still standing; one of these was
the office of the Misses Codd, which at the
time was the only exchange office in Toronto.
Another of these houses was subsequently
the residence of Mr. James Beaty, the
proprietor of the Leader.
The Market occupied the space on the west
side between Front and King Streets. On
the south-west corner of Richmond Street
was a brick building which was afterwards
the confectionery shop of John Nasmith.
Then between Newgate (now Adelaide) and
Richmond Streets there was a wooden build-
* Formerly New Street and subsequently Nelson
Street.
90
OF TORONTO OF OLD
ing, the Home District Grammar School, of
which Mr. Crombie was the head master.
Nelson Street then ended at Queen Street.
TORONTO STREET.
The only building on the east side that I
can remember was the County Jail, of which
Mr. John Kidd was the jailor, and to which
position on his death his son John Kidd
succeeded. He had a large family of sons
and daughters. One of his daughters
married Mr. John Blevins, City Clerk,
and another (who is still living) the late
Colonel William Arthurs. Mr. Kidd was
buried in the churchyard of St. James
Cathedral, and a short time since when
walking through I noticed his headstone,
which is now lying flat. I was much sur
prised to find that he was so young a man,
being only in his forty-second year. He died
in 1841.
After the erection of the new jail on Front
Street East the old building was used as an
insane asylum and, considerably altered, is
now the York Chambers. In the early
forties the city pound, surrounded by a
picket fence, was on the north-east corner
of Toronto and Court Streets. It was subse
quently removed and the space south of
91
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
the Adelaide Street Methodist Church left
vacant for a number of years, enabling one
to take a short cut across from Toronto
Street to Adelaide. There were no build
ings on the opposite side except a very small
low brick house on the back part of the lot.
About forty years ago, in excavating for
the cellar of the building immediately south
of the Gas Office, a skeleton was discovered,
evidently that of a man who had been
executed and was buried in what was then
the jail yard.
VICTORIA STREET.
(Formerly Upper George Street.)
I have not a clear recollection of this
street, except that there were a few wooden
buildings on the east side and on the west
side some brick ones near the corner of Rich
mond Street. There was a jog in the street
at the corner of Richmond, considerably
reducing its width north to Queen Street,
where it ended.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XIII.
YONGE STREET.
I SHALL not attempt to give anything like
a detailed account of the buildings on Yonge
Street, but shall simply refer to a few of
the more prominent ones of which I have
recollection.
On the north-east corner of Front and
Yonge Streets was a three-storey brick
building, afterwards the American Hotel,
and next to it another brick building, the
bakery of David Maitland. Between Wel
lington and King Streets as well as between
Adelaide and Richmond Streets, were a
number of both wooden and brick buildings,
and back of what is now the music store of
R. S. Williams, Edwin Bell s soap and
candle factory.
On the south-east corner of Richmond
Street was a brick building, the drug
store of John r. Bettridge, and between
Queen and what is now Shuter Street a
number of private dwellings, one of which
was that of John Ewart, wholesale mer
chant. Above Shuter Street, as far as
93
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Gerrard Street, the buildings were rather
scattered and were mostly private resi
dences. There were very few houses north
of Gerrard Street, one of these being the
dwelling of Jonathan Scott, butcher.
Between Gerrard Street and the line of
Alexander Street there was quite a hill, on
which there was a grove of high pine trees
called " Molly Wood s Bush," and along the
line of Carlton Street a swamp, from which
flowed a creek which ran in a south-easterly
direction into and through the eastern por
tion of the Normal School grounds, across
Church Street a little above the junction of
Gould Street, then through Mr. Jarvis pro
perty, who had dammed it to make a fish
pond, then through Moss Park to the Ridout
property between Duchess and Queen
Streets down to Front Street, a little east to
Parliament Street, then through the pro
perty of Mr. Enoch Turner (now a portion
of the Gas Works), and turning west
ward emptied into the bay at the foot of
Parliament Street.
Another creek then ran across Yonge
Street opposite Shuter Street in a diagonal
direction under the house on the south-east
corner, across to Bond Street under the
third house from the corner of Queen, then
across the southern portion of the McGill
94
.JKSSE KETCHUM.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Square (now the Metropolitan Church
grounds), then across Church Street under
the second house above the corner of Queen,
then across a field where Cooke s Church
now stands, and continued in an easterly
direction across the property of Mr. S. P.
Jarvis into that of the Hon. William Allan,
where it was joined by the other creek above
referred to. Sometimes we used to catch
chub in this stream.
The first building on the west side was
the Post Office at the corner of Front Street
(before described). I do not remember any
others until we come to the residence and
auctioneer shop of Mr. F. C. Capreol, and
on the corner of King Street the large whole
sale dry goods house of Messrs. A. Lawrie
and Company. At the south-west corner of
Adelaide Street was the tannery of Mr. Jesse
Ketchum. Mr. Ketchum, who was born in
Spencertown in the State of New York in
1782, came to Canada in 1799 and went into
partnership in the tannery business with an
elder brother on Yonge Street seven or eight
miles from York, and about 1812 he bought
and assumed the management of the tan
nery, a succession of wooden buildings at
the south-west corner of Adelaide and Yons>v
Streets, which stretched along the south
side of Adelaide Street nearly over to Bay
95
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Street. He owned all the property bounded
by Queen, Adelaide, Yonge and Bay Streets,
and opened up Temperance Street, on which
he gave a site for a Temperance Hall. He
also gave several acres for a children s park
in Yorkville, called the Jesse Ketchum
Park, the site of the public school on Daven
port Road, called the Jesse Ketchum School,
and set aside two acres on Queen Street, a
little west of Yonge Street the site of the
former Knox Church, now occupied by the
western part of the Robert Simpson block.
In speaking of Mr. Ketchum, the late Rev.
Dr. John Carroll, a well-known Methodist
minister, who when a boy was employed by
him and did various kinds of work about
the tannery, and who calls Mr. Ketchum his
"dear old boss," tells us in his book, "My
Boy Life," how Mr. Ketchum obtained so
much property : " At the opening of the war
of 1812-15 he was led to buy a tannery and
several surrounding blocks of land in the
town of York, at a sacrifice to the sellers,
from aliens retiring to the United States.
This applies especially to the property of
Mr. Van Zant. There was a great demand
for home-manufactured leather, for none
was admitted from the States. Prices dur
ing the war were high and money was
plenty. Cash flowed in upon our hero, and
96
OF TORONTO OF OLD
he had a chance to buy town lots and farms
for a mere song, which after a few years
increased in value four, five, ten, and at last
one hundred times. A similar purchase was
made in Buffalo, New York, with the same
results."
Further on he says : " I do not think that
Mr. Ketchum ever professed any very
marked Christian experience, but from our
earliest knowledge of him as a householder,
his character was that of a Christian man.
He was never known otherwise than strictly
moral and temperate. Indeed he was far in
advance of the very best part of the com
munity in avoidance of the drinking cus
toms of the day. He took no snuff, tobacco
or drams; no manner of work did he, his
son, or his daughter, his man-servant, his
maid-servant, his ox, his horses and mules,
or the stranger that was within his gates,
perform on the Sabbath. At first he kept a
pew in the Episcopal Church, but when the
Methodists built a church in 1818 he was a
frequent attendant and a teacher in the Sun
day school, which w^as the first to be organ
ized. His home was always open to all the
travelling ministers, who came and went in
those days the Methodist itinerant among
the rest. From an early day, family wor
ship was conducted twice in each twenty-
7 97
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
four hours, and everyone in his large house
hold was required to be present. Mrs. Ket
chum, however, was a Presbyterian and her
husband came to have proclivities that way
himself." He also gives some very interest
ing accounts of Mr. Ketchum and of the
hardships he underwent in his early life.
" About 1820 the late Rev. James Harris,
a young Presbyterian minister from the
north of Ireland, came here, and Mr. Ket
chum gave him free quarters for many
years, till at length Mr. Harris married Mr.
Ketchum s second daughter, when he was
given a house as well as a housekeeper."
Mr. Ketchum paid frequent visits to the
Sunday schools of Toronto and was accus
tomed to give short addresses to the boys
and girls. I remember a visit of his to the
Richmond Street Sunday school somewhere
about 1860, when he gave some very kind,
fatherly words of counsel and encourage
ment, and amongst other things he strongly
advised the girls never to marry a man who
smoked or chewed tobacco or drank liquor.
Mr. Ketchum was a very strong temperance
advocate. I was very much impressed with
his appearance and the energy with which
he spoke and his humor. He was then about
eighty years of age, with silvery hair and a
plain but pleasant face. He had all the
98
OF TORONTO OF OLD
appearance of being a very hale and vig
orous old man.
He was a most public-spirited citizen and
gave freely to all public enterprises in the
city and with lavish liberality to philan
thropic and religious objects. It was said
that what he gave away in Toronto, Buffalo
and other towns if estimated and valued
would reach an enormous sum. " In 1858 he
created the Jesse Ketchum Trust, for the
benefit of the Sunday school teachers of the
city of Toronto. The trust consists of a pro
perty on Yonge Street (between King and
Adelaide Streets, the former Bible and
Tract Societies building and the adjoining
building to the north ) , the annual rental of
which is to be devoted to the purchase of
suitable gift books for the scholars from
time to time attending the several Sabbath
schools in the city of Toronto. He also
created a trust for the benefit of the scholars
attending the public schools of Toronto and
one for the scholars attending the Yorkville
public school, erected on the land previously
granted by him (above referred to). For
the administration of all these trusts he
named the Upper Canada Bible Society and
the Upper Canada Religious Tract and Book
Society trustees. He also gave to these two
societies, jointly, a valuable property to help
99
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
in carrying on their work." These provi
sions have been carried out to the present
time, but the public schools have not made
any claim upon this fund. In the report
published in the Qlobe, January 10th, 1914,
it appears that the value of the books dis
tributed amongst the various churches, mis
sions and homes amounted for the year 1913
to the large sum of $5,700.
Mr. Ketchum had two sons, Jesse and
William, both of whom I knew. William,
who died at middle age, was a very fine-look
ing man and was elected a member of Par
liament. Jesse lived for a long time on his
property at Orangeville. Mr. Ketchum con
tinued to reside here until his return to
Buffalo in 1845, where he died on September
7th, 1867, in his eighty-sixth year.
Between Adelaide and Richmond Streets
were the boot and shoe shops of John
Tyner, Thomas Webb and William Flock,
and at the corner of Queen Street a large
lot, at the back of which was Montgom
ery s tavern, already referred to. Opposite
Shuter Street was the extensive property,
called " Macaulay Town," in which was the
residence of Dr. Macaulay.
Farther up and opposite Gerrard Street
there was a fine, attractive residence in the
centre of a garden. It was here, somewhere
100
OF TORONTO OF OLD
about 1843, that I first saw tomatoes grow
ing! There was a very fine grove of hard
wood trees opposite Carlton Street, on the
site of the Bishop Strachan School, and
where Judge Macaulay subsequently built a
residence. What is now College Street was
merely a narrow road through an avenue of
trees extending to about the end of the
Queen Street Avenue. Farther on was a
large residence called " Elmsley Villa,"
with extensive grounds, the property of Mr.
Macaulay, and which later on was rented by
Lord Elgin as the Government House. Fur
ther north, on the rise of ground north of
St. Joseph Street, formerly called " Clover
Hill," stood the residence of Captain the
Honorable John Elmsley, where I often
went up to play with his son, Sherwood.
Captain Elmsley in his younger days was a
lieutenant in the Royal Navy, which he left
in 1832, but in 1837 he was appointed to the
command of a Government vessel in the
River St. Lawrence. He subsequently
settled in Toronto, where he purchased a
great deal of property, and later on com
manded the Sovereign, one of the Lake
Ontario mail steamers. Sometime prior to
this he had been appointed to a seat in the
Upper House. He had been a staunch Pro
testant like his father, the Chief Justice, but
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RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
in 1834 became a convert to the Roman
Catholic Church. He was a man of fine
bearing and much energy, going into any
thing he undertook with the greatest
enthusiasm. He was most generous, chari
table and open-hearted. He had much per
sonal magnetism and was very popular.
The Roman Catholic Church greatly bene
fited by his munificent gifts and personal
efforts. Mrs. Elmsley was a daughter of
the Honorable L. P. Sherwood, another of
whose daughters married Dr. King and the
other the Honorable John Crawford (after
wards Lieu tenant-Governor of Ontario).
Mrs. Elmsley and Mrs. King were both very
beautiful women, and Mrs. Crawford was
tall and of a very striking appearance. The
three sons of Judge Sherwood were the Hon
orable Henry, Edward and Samuel, and
were all tall and very handsome men. The
sons were all Protestants and the daughters
Roman Catholics.
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XIV.
BAY, YORK AND SIMCOE STREETS.
BAY STREET.
ON the east side, between Front and Wel
lington Streets, were the grounds of the
Honorable Robert Baldwin and Mr. Andrew
Mercer. Between Wellington and King-
Streets stood a row of three-storey brick
buildings and a roughcast building on the
north-east corner of Melinda Street. North
from the corner of King Street were a num
ber of private dwellings and on the north
east corner of Adelaide Street the Congrega
tional Church, a wooden building, of which
the Rev. John Roaf was pastor.
On the west side between Front and
Wellington Streets were a number of three-
storey brick dwellings and north of Welling
ton Street a row of two-storey brick dwell
ings; then, Mr. John Boyd s Commercial
Academy and the Primitive Methodist
Chapel (referred to elsewhere). On the
north-west corner of King Street was the
Iank of Montreal, and farther on the double
brick residence of Mr. Hugh Carfrae. Above
103
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
this, some distance back from the street and
approached by a circular roadway, was the
building used for the services of the Catholic
Apostolic Church and the residence of the
Rev. George Ryerson, the pastor (Who had
been a Methodist minister). It was sur
rounded by tasteful grounds with an
orchard behind. Mr. Ryerson was a very
pleasant old gentleman; he was the brother
of the Rev. Dr. Egerton and Revs. John and
William Ryerson all Methodist ministers.
Above this was the cabinet factory and resi
dence of Elijah B. Gilbert. Between Ade
laide and Queen Streets were the brewery of
Mr. Doel and a few other buildings.
About 1851, and for a considerable time
after, Bay Street was quite a fashionable
street, on which a number of Toronto s
prominent citizens lived.
YORK STREET.
I do not remember any buildings on the
east side between Front and Wellington
Streets excepting those which faced on
Front and Wellington Streets and between
Wellington and King Streets; on the
corner of King Street was the British
Coffee House, kept by Michael Keating
and afterwards by Mrs. Ellah. In one of
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
the buildings between Richmond and Queen
Streets was a school kept by Mr. Loscombe,
which I attended for a short time.
On the west side, near the corner of Front
Street, was the residence of Captain James
M. Strachan, called " the Cottage," and at
the south corner of King Street the
carriage shop of Owen, Miller and Mills.
Between Adelaide and Richmond Streets
was a row of two-storey buildings, still
standing, which were then considered desir
able residences and where afterwards quite
a number of Government officials lived.
Between Richmond and Queen Streets w r as
the cottage of Dr. Reginald Hornby, a mild-
mannered, pleasant little man, very deaf
and generally in a state of irnpecuniosity,
and who had a good deal of trouble with the
bailiffs, whom he sometimes outwitted.
Immediately north of Dr. Hornby s cot
tage was the two-storey brick house in
which William Lyon Mackenzie lived in
1836-7, and where he planned his ill-advised
rebellion and prepared the inflammatory
and seditious articles which he published in
his paper, The Constitution. The story of
the rebellion has been so often told that it
will not be necessary for me to say anything
regarding it. I well remember Mr. Mac
kenzie s return to Toronto in March, 1849,
105
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
when I saw him driving up Yonge Street in
a carriage with his brother-in-law, Mr.
Mclntosh, and witnessed the turbulent
scenes which took place, and now quote a
few extracts from the report given in Mr.
Robertson s " Landmarks of Toronto,"
which are more in detail than I could give
them:
" Rumor had flown around during the
afternoon of Thursday, March 22, that there
would be trouble in the evening. Mackenzie
was in town. With the coming of night
dirty, ragged, intoxicated men and boys
began to assemble, until several hundreds
were gathered. They carried torches and
in their midst were borne aloft effigies of
Mackenzie, Attorney-General West and
Solicitor-General West. Suddenlv the mob
mj
sent up a shout of Fire! and rushed to a
point on Yonge Street not far from the
Mclntosh house. The alarm was false, but
it served the intended purpose and swelled
the ranks of the rioters. Then the crowd,
with all the confused babel of a mob, starts
down Yonge Street. Turning eastward on
King Street, it marches past the old market
building, wheels to the right, passes by the
doors of the police station, and, directing its
course along Front Street, stops at the resi
dences of the Attorney and Solicitor-Gen-
106
OF TORONTO OF OLD
erals West, where it burns the effigies of
these officials before their windows. .
By midnight the whole crowd had assembled
before John Mclntosh s house. Yonge Street
was full. The tar barrel was set on end in
the middle of the roadway and two more
barrels placed by it. The discharge of fire
arms became general ; cries of Colonel
Moodie! were fiercely ejaculated, mingled
with demands for Mackenzie s surrender.
Then an attack was made on the house;
bricks, stones and sticks were hurled at it;
every pane of glass in the windows broken ;
stones weighing six and seven pounds were
sent crashing through, carrying glass and
sash along. Whispers passed among the
leaders that if Mackenzie could be got at
he would quickly be disposed of. The four
policemen at hand were impotent. They
;i i-rest a law student, but the rioters knock the
constables down and rescue their comrade.
In the front ranks of the crowd were several
aldermen. Hervey Price, barrister, son of the
Commissioner of Crown Lands, was attacked,
severely cut about the head, and but for the
interference of one of the policemen would
have been killed. The fury of the mob
increasing, the constables stationed them
selves at the door and prevented it from
breaking in. While the utmost lawlessness
107
KECOLLECTIONS AND RECOKDS
prevailed at the front of the house, some of
the rioters made their way to the rear
through the gate and made a similar attack
in that quarter with every kind of missiles
at hand. Great stones were hurled through
the windows of Mr. Montgomery s house
nearly opposite. At four o clock in the
morning the mob left the Mclntosh house
and went to the residence of Mr. Brown, of
the Globe, where windows and blinds were
smashed. Friday night another crowd gath
ered at Mr. Mackenzie s stopping-place, but
two hundred special constables were on
hand, reinforced by many private citizens in
an attitude of defence, and sixty soldiers
who had been brought down from the bar
racks. Nothing was done beyond noisy
demonstrations. Saturday night another
rabble gathered, but learning that the Mcln
tosh house would be protected by a strong-
force, no attempt was made to molest the
inmates, the crowd contenting itself with
breaking gas-lamps and windows on Bay
and Bond Streets and in sections of the city
where there were no constables. After this
no further display of violence was made
against Mr. Mackenzie, and in 1850 he
brought his family from New York to
Toronto and took up his residence here,
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
where he continued to live until his death,
August 28th, 1861."
Mr. Mackenzie was elected as a member of
the Legislative Assembly of Canada for Hal-
dimand in 1851, and represented that county
for a number of years. What a revulsion
of opinion since 1837 ! I frequently met him
at the Post Office when he called for his
letters, and often noticed his broad and high
forehead and the great size of his head, par
ticularly for so short a man. His manner
was very abrupt and impatient, and to me
he had the look of a disappointed man.
SIMCOE STREET.
(Formerly Graves Street.)
On the east side between Front and Wel
lington Streets were the grounds of the
Bishop of Toronto, and on the north-east
corner the large three and one-half storey
residence of Judge Hagerman, where after
wards the Honorable John Crawford lived
and which later on became the office of the
Public Works Department of Ontario. The
grounds of the Parliament Buildings were
on the west side between Front and Wel
lington Streets and the Government House
property between Wellington and King
Streets. There were several private resi-
109
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
dences on both sides of the street between
King and Queen Streets, and above Queen
a few more. Farther up, and following the
line of Simcoe Street a little south-east of
Caer Howell, was the private burying-ground
of the Powell family, which contained a
vault and a number of tombstones, and was
surrounded by a high brick wall.
JOHN STREET.
On John Street were several private resi
dences, and at the head of the street, sur
rounded by spacious grounds, on Grange
Road (still standing), the well-known hand
some two-storey house called " The Grange,"
recently the residence of Professor Goldwin
Smith and left by him to the city to be used
as an art museum. This building was
erected in 1820 by Mr. D Arcy Boulton and
is a fine specimen of the early brick resi
dences in Toronto. On the death of Mr.
Boulton, his widow continued to reside
there with her son, Mr. William Henry
Boulton, who was a member of Parliament
and mayor of the city from 1845 to 1847 and
in 1858. He subsequently married a Miss
Dixon, of Boston, a wealthy lady, who after
his death married Professor Goldwin Smith.
The Grange; the "Palace" of Bishop
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
Strachan; Moss Park, the residence of the
Honorable William Allan; Beverley House,
the residence of Chief Justice Robinson;
and Holland House, the residence of the
Honorable H. J. Boulton, were the five prin
cipal residences in the city at the time and
for many years after.
PETER STREET.
On Peter Street, on the west side south of
King Street, were some large and imposing
residences; further up, north of Adelaide
Street, that of Judge the Honorable Archi
bald McLean; and opposite Richmond
Street, and some distance back, the attrac
tive residence of Mr. Robert Stanton,
Queen s Printer.
Ill
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XV.
THE ISLAND.
THE Island was then a peninsula stretch
ing from the line of the Queen s Wharf to
the end of Ashbridge s Bay, a distance of
about nine miles. The only buildings on the
Island were the lighthouse, the lighthouse-
keeper s house, a fisherman s house, and a
hotel kept by Louis Privat, a little west of
the present eastern entrance to the harbor.
This hotel was one of the principal places of
resort near the city. It was a square three-
storey wooden building with excellent
accommodation and meals and all kinds of
liquid refreshments. There were a menag
erie, swings, bowling alleys, and other
amusements which added to the attraction
of the place. In 1858 a succession of eastern
storms, together with the high water, made
such inroads into the bay that it washed
away the foundation of the house and
wrecked the building. This, Mr. Matthew
O Connor, who kept a diary, tells me was on
the 15th April. There was quite an eleva
tion on the Island a little east of Blockhouse
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
Bay, which was considerably lowered by the
removal of sand in the winter for building
purposes, and where there was a grove of
pine trees. On some portions strawberries
grew in profusion. It was then a great
resort for game, principally wild duck, snipe
and plover, and annually, between the
twenty-first and twenty-fourth of May, it
was visited by large flocks of blackheart
plover, which remained there for a few days
on their migration to the north. These birds
were considered great dainties.
THE BAY.
The bay being nearly landlocked, once it
was frozen over the ice did not usually break
up until late in March, and consequently it
was a safe and glorious place for ice-boat
ing and skating when the ice was not too
rough. After the ice formed there was a
long fissure (in some places quite wide)
caused by the current of the Don, all the way
from the river s mouth to the Queen s Wharf.
One could start from the top of Blockhouse
Bay and skate the whole way to the eastern
end of Ashbridge s Bay, a distance of
between five and six miles. Ashbridge s Bay
was accessible by boats through several
channels. As there were no skating-rinks
8 113
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
until 1851, when the Mayor, Mr. John G.
Bowes, had a temporary rink built south of
Peter Street, the curlers had spaces kept
clear of snow for their rinks between the
wharves. Amongst the most graceful skat
ers and expert cutters of figures on the bay
were Messrs. F. W. Barron, Principal of the
Upper Canada College, and J. R. Armstrong,
Junior.
The only ferry to the Island was a horse-
boat, propelled by paddles which revolved by
means of a treadmill operated by one or two
horses and which took about half an hour
to cross the bay. Pike, bass, perch, sunfish,
and occasionally a maskinonge, were caught
off the wharves and were quite plentiful in
Ashbridge s Bay and the River Don. As far
as I can remember, there were no sewers to
the bay and the water was unpolluted and
used for drinking.
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DON RIVER.
THERE were then two mouths to the River
Don, one a little south of the present one.
The river was so very serpentine that one
would have to go about three miles to one
in a straight line. There were long stretches
of meadow land between the windings of the
river, and a good deal of marsh. This, as
well as the marsh between the harbor and
Ashbridge s .Bay, was a great place for
muskrats, and numbers were trapped. Oil
the eastern bank, as far up as about the
line of Gerrard Street, was the distillery
of William Arthurs, and farther on the
Scadding farm. In the vicinity of the upper
part of the Don there were several good
trout streams. The Rev. John Doel, who
died in 1909 at the age of ninety-three years,
once told me that in his boyhood days sea
salmon were sometimes caught in the river.
There was also very good partridge shooting
in this vicinity.
Above the present Winchester Street
bridge the whole of the valley was really
115
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
a scene of beauty. In many places the river
banks were lined with willows festooned
with wild grapevines. There were many
stately elms, some of which remain, and
wild plum and butter-nut trees, and wild
gooseberry and currant bushes were abund
ant. The surrounding hills were thickly
wooded with a variety of trees. Numerous
birds were its denizens, many of which we
now seldom see in the vicinity of the city,
such as the magnificent plumed high-holders
and other kinds of woodpeckers, the thrush,
blue jay, bluebird, kingfisher, blackbird, the
scarlet tanager, and what we call the
wild canary, the meadow lark, oriole and
others. All of these birds excepting the
kingfisher could be seen even in Allan s
Bush. To have such a beauty spot within
easy distance of the city was some compen
sation for the absence of the many advan
tages which we now possess and of which,
of course, we then had no conception.
What a contrast with the present condi
tion of the Don valley ! Railway tracks and
sidings filled with cars; piles of lumber;
brickyards; clouds of smoke from the fur
naces and locomotives ; the noise of the mov
ing trains; the tooting of the whistles and
the ringing of the bells where all was silent,
save the tinkling of the cowbell and the low-
116
OF TORONTO OF OLD
ing of the cattle. But, as in thousands of
other cases, the beautiful and attractive has
had to give way to utility and the march of
progress. Yet something of the beauty is
left most of the trees on the western hill-
slopes and the entrance to the ravines still
remain, giving some idea of what this por
tion of the Don was in the years gone by.
It is cause for much satisfaction that so
much of the beauty of the Humber valley
is to be preserved in perpetuity for our citi
zens. How few cities there are on this
continent with such beautiful environs as
Toronto the numerous ravines ; the valleys
/
of the Humber and Don ; Howard Park ; and
farther away the Credit valley; the Scar-
boro heights; the heights to the north of
the city ; the Island, capable of much further
beautification ; and where is there another
city with so many other attractive resorts
near at hand, accessible both by rail and
vessel?
ROSEDALE RAVINE.
In those days, and for some time after,
there was a millpond something less than a
quarter of a mile long in the first Rose-
dale ravine, ending about the line of the
Sherbourne Street bridge. It was called
Rloor s Millpond, Joseph Bloor s mill being
117
RECOLLECTIONS AND BECOKDS
situated at its eastern end. This pond was
supplied by a creek coming across from
Yonge Street which, after running through
the Eosedale ravine, emptied into the Don.
This was a glorious bathing-place for the
boys, because of its seclusion and the water
being much warmer than that of the bay. I
have often greatly enjoyed a swim in it.
There were, however, some stumps (the
jagged tops of w r hich were a feAv inches
below the surface of the water), of which we
had to beware. The banks were wooded
down to the margin of the pond. With the
exception of " Eosedale," the residence of
Sheriff Jarvis, the whole of what is now
Rosedale was thickly wooded. Some of the
magnificent elms and maples still remain,
giving some idea of what the woods were.
My recollection is that there was a thick
grove of lofty pines on the hill to the north
of the millpond. The present hardwood
trees there are, I believe, the second growth.
There was a blockhouse on the north side
of Bloor Street, nearly opposite the end of
Parliament Street. This blockhouse was
taken down sometime about forty years
since and a brick dwelling erected in its
place.
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XVII.
RELIGIOUS AND PUBLIC INSTITU
TIONS.
THE CHURCHES.
THERE were eight churches in the city in
1839 St. James Cathedral, the Presby
terian Church at the corner of Adelaide and
Church Street, the Congregational Church
(a wooden building) on the north-east cor
ner of Richmond and Bay Streets, the
Primitive Methodist Church on the west
side of Bay Street one door south of King,
the Roman Catholic Church on Power
Street, the building used for the Catholic
Apostolic Church on Bay Street, the British
Wesleyan Methodist Church on George
Street nearly opposite Richmond Street,
and the Baptist Church on March Street.
None of these now remain.
THE BANKS.
There were four banks the Bank of
Upper Canada on the north-east corner of
Duke and George Streets, the Bank of Brit-
119
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
ish North America on the south-east corner
of King and Frederick Streets (still stand
ing), the Commercial Bank on King Street
((afterwards the store of Angus Dallas and
later on the Globe office), about where Dun-
ning s Hotel is situated, and the Bank of
Montreal on the north-west corner of King
and Bay Streets.
THE HOSPITAL.
The General and only hospital was situ
ated near John Street and faced King-
Street in a block bounded by King, Ade
laide, John and Peter Streets (now cov
ered with buildings). I remember, in 1849,
seeing a great number of Irish immigrants
who were ill with what was called the " emi
grant fever," somewhat like the cholera, and
which was very fatal lying on beds or
stretchers in rows of sheds, open at the
sides, occupying almost the whole of the
vacant land a most pitiable sight !
THE WATER AND GAS SUPPLY.
There were no water-works until about
1843, when they were established by Mr.
Albert Furniss of Montreal. In most of the
yards there were wells or pumps, and rain
water was collected in underground tanks
120
OF TORONTO OF OLD
or in barrels; this was often frozen in the
winter, when it was customary to melt snow
as a substitute. As wood was the only fuel
used for domestic purposes, excepting in a
few instances, until 1854, the rainwater was
quite satisfactory for washing purposes.
When people ran short of water it had to be
carted up from the bay in barrels.
The trenches for the gas supply were
being dug in 1841, and gas was first sup
plied on December 19th of that year. As
coal oil was not discovered until about a
quarter of a century later and the price of
gas was almost prohibitory, tallow candles
were in general use for lighting. People had
molds and made their own candles I have
made them myself. They were sold by the
pound by the grocer and chandler, some six
to the pound and some nine. It was also a
common thing for people to make their own
soap, utilizing the wood ashes. The soap
and candle manufacturers used to send
around to the residences for grease, for
which they exchanged candles or soap.
COST OF LIVING.
In the forties f 500 a year was considered
a very good salary. Bricklayers were paid
about |1.25 to f 1.50 per day, carpenters f 1.00
121
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
to $1.25, and laborers 75c. As to expendi
tures, the rental of a fairly good house was
from f 100 to $125 per annum. The retail
price of beef, 5c. to Tc. a pound ; mutton, 5c. ;
pork, 5c. to Tc. ; butter, 10c.; eggs, lOc. a
dozen; apples, $1.00 to $1.50 per barrel;
good beech and maple wood, $2.25 to $2.50 a
cord ; chickens, 25c. a pair, and turkeys 50c.
to 75c. each; whiskey, 25c. a gallon! The
rates charged by the first-class hotels for
travellers were $1.00 per day and for regu
lar boarders $5.00 per week. Taking into
consideration the difference in the prices of
the necessaries of life and rent, the purchas
ing power of salaries and wages was then
quite equal to the purchasing power of the
larger salaries and wages paid to-day.
THE STREETS.
The streets were wretchedly paved, or not
at all, and were generally in a very bad con
dition. All the sidewalks were of wood and
in the principal streets were from eight to
ten feet in width, the planks being laid
crosswise, and on many of the private
streets not more than four planks (four
feet) in width, laid lengthwise. The nails
frequently became loose, causing the ends to
122
OF TORONTO OF OLD
tilt, making it somewhat risky for pedes
trians. These sidewalks had to be frequently
renewed.
THE FIRE PROTECTION.
In case of fires, which were of frequent
occurrence, all the water had to be carted
up in barrels from the bay. Five dollars
was paid to the carter first delivering water
and two dollars to the next. Some of the
carters kept filled barrels in their yards,
which were covered over with canvas to pre
vent the water from being spilt in transit,
so as to be ready to be early at a fire and
get the promised reward. This sometimes
caused conflict between the competitors, and
in the haste to deliver a good deal of the
water was spilt. The Fire Brigade con
sisted of several fire engine and hook-and-
ladder companies, the officers being a cap
tain, first lieutenant, second lieutenant, sec
retary and treasurer. The firemen and offi
cers, some of whom were our principal citi
zens, were not paid for their services. They
were, however, exempt from serving on
juries and from military service, except in
case of actual war. In 1837 the fire engine
company numbered seventy and the hook-
and-ladder sixty members.
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RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
In 1839 there were only four policemen
and in 1850 only eight, over whom there was
a chief constable, Mr. George L. Allan, after
wards jailer.
There was a town crier or bellringer,
whose principal duty seemed to be to call
out the names and give a description of lost
children and animals. Weak-minded but
harmless people, who are now confined in
institutions, were allowed to wander through
the streets, there being no provision made
for their care. Amongst these were some
well-known characters one who called him
self Sir John Smith, a paralytic, who con
sidered himself a poet and who wheeled him
self about in a little carriage; and another,
Captain Fitzgerald, an old army officer, who
was accustomed to stand in the street and
go through his military evolutions. This
old gentleman had the habit of using his
walking-stick and presenting it as a musket,
and also of giving passersby a dig in the
ribs (sometimes a pretty severe one) with
his elbow. Horses and cows were also
allowed to roam at large through the streets
and were only impounded when trespassing,
but owners who allowed their pigs to run
about the town were liable to a fine of ten
shillings, and when impounded, if they were
not claimed within three days they were
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
sold. Both pigs and geese often found their
way into the gardens and lawns when the
gates were left open.
There were only two or three cabs in 1840
and somewhere about a dozen in 1850. The
only public conveyance in the city in the
forties and fifties was an omnibus which
plied between Toronto and Yorkville.
THE CEMETERIES IN 1839-1843.
There were no cemeteries outside of the
church grounds excepting the Potters Field
(the strangers burying-ground), on the
north-west corner of Yonge and Bloor
Streets, and a small burying-ground on
Duchess, near Princes Street. These ceme
teries were closed long ago, and no burials
have taken place in the church grounds for
many years.
It was customary, as late as 1849, to send
written invitations to persons whom the
relatives desired to attend the funerals.
THE PRESENT CEMETERIES.
The picturesque St. James Cemetery pro
perty was secured largely through the influ
ence of Mr. Thomas D. Harris, one of the
churchwardens, who was a wide-awake, zeal
ous and enthusiastic churchman. The ceme-
125
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
tery was consecrated and opened with con
siderable ceremony in 1844 by the Bishop
and clergy, in which the choir of the St.
James Cathedral (of which I was a mem
ber) took part. The members of the choir
wore surplices. I find that 42,365 burials
have taken place in this cemetery up to the
time of writing (December 4, 1913).
The Necropolis was opened on May 22,
1850, the board of trustees being the Honor-
ble John McMurrich, Messrs. Alexander
McGlashen and John Shaw, and the secre
tary and treasurer, Mr. Samuel Spreull.
The number of burials up to the present
time have been 32,192. The first interment
in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery was on
March 13th, 1876, and up to the present
date there have been 31,327 burials. Mount
Hope, the Roman Catholic buryiug-ground
on Yonge Street, was consecrated on March
27th, 1900, and the interments to the pres
ent date number 3,836. St. John s, at the
Woodbine, was opened in 1854, the burials
up to the present time being 7,237; in St.
Michael s, opened in 1855, 25,700. In Pros
pect Cemetery, opened May 17, 1890, the
interments to December 10, 1913, were
11,655.
This makes the total burials in the above
cemeteries (since the opening of the St.
126
OF TORONTO OF OLD
James , at which I was present, in 1844),
154,300, besides the burials in the Potters
Field and the St. Paul s Roman Catholic
burying-ground on Power Street, up to the
time of their closing in 1850 and 1855,
respectively, and also the burials in the
Jewish cemetery.
127
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MILITARY AND POLITICAL
CONDITIONS.
THE MILITARY.
THERE were three regiments of the line*
the Thirty-second, Thirty-fourth and the
Ninety- third Highlanders - - in Toronto
between 1838 and 1843 only two of the
regiments being stationed here at the same
time. One occupied the old fort and the
other Osgoode Hall, the new garrison, where
our soldiers are at present stationed, not
having been built. On Sundays the soldiers
marched in the morning along King Street,
headed by their bands, one regiment to St.
James Cathedral and the Highlanders to
St. Andrew s Church. This was one of the
events of the time.
There was also a company of Lancers, the
officers of which were Major Thomas
Magrath and Captain James Mag-rath, of
* The soldiers at this time and for a few years
after were armed with cumbersome muskets (which
were, of course, muzzle-loaded), with flintlocks by
which the powder placed in the pan was ignited.
128
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Erindale, on the Credit. The Magraths
were two fine, stalwart, jolly Irishmen,
whom everybody knew. The Ensign was
Mr. C. W. Heath, a very tall and remark
ably fine-looking young man. (Mr. Heath
died March 7, 1900, at the age of eighty-
six.) I do not know how many there were
in the company, but it was not very large.
They wore very attractive uniforms and car
ried long lances, and as they rode through
the streets, with their horses prancing and
bugles blowing, they seemed a very gallant
company and created considerable sensa
tion. They were especially admired by the
ladies and boys, and many of the latter had
small tin lances made and formed them
selves into little companies.
The military officers organized a tandem
club, of which a number of the prominent
citizens were members, and there was, of
course, much emulation to have the finest
turnout. It was quite an animated scene
when several scores of cutters and sleighs
drawn by splendid horses drove through the
streets on a fine winter s day.
THE POLITICAL CONDITIONS.
The Act uniting Upper and Lower Canada
was passed by the British Parliament on
9 129
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
July 28, 1840, and took effect on January
10, 1841, following which a general election
took place. The Reform candidates for
Toronto were the Honorable J. H. Dunn and
Isaac Buchanan, and the Tory candidates
the Honorable Henry Sherwood and George
Munro. Party feeling ran very high and
the election was a very hotly contested one.
Each party wore colors the Tories red and
blue and the Reformers yellow and green.
There was open voting and the election
lasted a whole week. Free liquor was sup
plied at the headquarters of each party, and
it was not to be wondered at that street
fights were of frequent occurrence. The
campaign resulted in the election of Messrs.
Dunn and Buchanan.
At the close of the election the victorious
party inarched in procession through the
streets, and near the corner of Church and
King Streets several shots were fired at
those who were marching, with the result
that a young man was killed and a youth
named Joseph Cathcart, a spectator, son of
Mr. Robert Cathcart, merchant, was shot
in the thigh. I remember seeing the body
of the young man who was killed laid out
in a house on Wellington Street, and
frequently met Joseph Cathcart, whose
younger brother was one of my companions,
130
OF TORONTO OF OLD
walking through the streets on crutches. A
man named Kelley, a cabman, was tried for
the murder of the young man, but was
acquitted.
On looking through my scrapbook I found
therein a clipping taken from the Daily
Telegraph, February 28th, 1863. giving a
detailed account of the voting, with the
names of a number of the prominent citi
zens, all of whom I knew. The following is
a copy of the article:
A REMINISCENCE OF 41.
AN ELECTION OF THE OLD DAYS TWENTY-ONE OF THE
VOTERS OF 41 STILL LIVING.
Mr. Thomas Medcalf, of Adelaide Street, has in his
possession a classified list of all the voters who voted
in the election of this city, in 1841, between Dunn
and Buchanan ("Reform, on the part of the Govern
ment and people") and Sherwood and Munro ("Con
servative, on the part of the Family Compact and
corporation"). Very few of these voters are now
alive. The first name on the list is that of F. C.
Capreol, classified as an auctioneer, who still sur
vives. Among the others still living are: W. Hem-
well, brewer, now of Highland Creek; James Lesslie,
bookseller, of Eglinton; Henry Bowsell (Rowsell?),
bookseller; John Bugg, builder; John Harper, car
penter; Joseph Sheard, carpenter; Angus Dallas,
cooper; Peter Paterson, Norway; G. Lesslie, chemist;
Richard Northcote, grocer; Samuel Platt, tavern-
131
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
keeper; John Riddle, tailor; Richard Score, tailor;
Jeremiah Iredale, tinplate worker; Adam Wilson,
attorney and barrister; Clarke Gamble, attorney and
barrister; John Argue, now Deputy Mayor;* Arthur
Leppard (Lepper?), laborer; William Cayley; T. Met-
calf, bailiff; W. A. Baldwin, retired; and John
Maughan, retired.f
The summary shows that 947 voters recorded their
votes, and of these only twenty-one are now living.
The voting of those days lasted a week, and the
following is the summary of the polls:
Dunn. Buchanan. Sherwood. Munro.
Monday 40 40 62 62
Tuesday 71 70 71 71
Wednesday ... 92 91 86 86
Thursday 118 112 110 110
Friday 97 83 68 67
Saturday 77 70 44
495 466 441 435
Dunn s majority 60 over Munro, 54 over Sherwood.
Buchanan s majority 31 over Munro, 25 over Sher
wood.
* He was called Deputy Mayor as a joke. He was
an officious man and quite a character, and was never
a member of the City Council.
t All have passed away, the last being Mr. Clarke
Gamble, who died in 1902 at the age of ninety-four
years.
132
OF TORONTO OP OLD
CHAPTER XIX.
KINGSTON.
THE seat of government was removed
from Toronto to Kingston in 1841, and in
the latter part of the summer of that year
our family removed there. On the boat on
which we took passage was the late Honor
able John McMurrich and his bride, who
were on their wedding trip.
The population of Kingston was a little
over six thousand. It was then a bustling,
busy place. The coming of the Government
created quite a boom in building operations,
and a fine new market and city hall were
projected and completed a year or so after.
Having the seat of government, which it was
hoped would be permanently located here,
and being at the head of the Rideau Canal,
the only waterway by which goods and pro
duce could then be shipped to and from
Montreal and the East, great hopes were
entertained of its becoming a large and
important city, and with this expectation
a number of Toronto merchants established
branches there.
133
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
I was much impressed with the large num
ber of boats in the harbor. There were
scores of barges, either being loaded or
unloaded, and the numerous French-Cana
dian sailors or bargemen belonging to them
created quite an animated scene while they
were engaged at their work. There were
numerous tow-boats, a number of schooners
and quite a few steamers in the harbor.
The appearance of the city was quite
impressive viewed from the water-front and
from across the bay, the buildings standing
out prominently owing to the rather steep
rise of the land.
It was an important military post. The
Twenty-third Regiment, the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers I think the full regiment and
some batteries of artillery were stationed
there, in addition to the artillerymen at the
fort. Frequent reviews, held near Barrie-
field, across the bay, were a source of much
interest to the citizens. The Twenty-third
Regiment had a very large fife-and-drum
band I think nearly a hundred in number,
it being a hobby of the colonel s and the
nightly tattoos (sometimes by the whole
band) Avere great attractions. Many of the
men of the Twenty-third were a rough,
drunken lot, and fights amongst themselves
and with some of the rougher element in the
134
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
city were frequent, so people avoided the
vicinity of the barracks after tattoo, when
the guards were searching for drunken men.
Excepting from a distance, the appear
ance of Kingston always impressed me as
being rather sombre, because of the num
erous places where the rock cropped up, the
paucity of lawns and flower-gardens, and
the darkish grey color of the limestone of
which many of the houses were built. It
may well be called the " Limestone City."
Toronto got the limestone for the building
of the jail, at the east end of the city, from
there. Kingston was certainly substantial
looking enough. The British- American Hotel
was the principal hostelry then, as it is
to-day.
Locating the Government at Kingston w r as
a very bad thing for that city, because it
created hopes that were never realized and
involved the city and the citizens in a large
expenditure in the construction of a number
of buildings, including the fine city hall and
market, which were not needed.
Mr. John Counter, baker, was Mayor of
Kingston at this time, and it was largely, I
think, through his influence that the city
hall was built. When I visited Kingston
many years after, I met Mr. Counter at the
residence of his son-in-law, and in referring
135
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
to the city hall he said, with a good deal of
complacency, " The people all say that was
the house that Jack built."
After the removal of the Government to
Montreal in 1843 and the opening of the
St. LaAvrence canals, Kingston became a
very dead place, and has grown slowly
compared with most other Canadian cities
down to the present time, but it is to be
hoped that it will grow faster in the future.
It has some important industries, two col
leges and a military school. It is a good
thing that the city is not only physically
substantial, but has a number of substantial
citizens, and amongst them some very enter
prising and up-to-date men.
The first Parliament was held in Kingston
in June, 1841. While I was there two of the
Governors-General died. Sir Charles Pou-
lett Thomson, afterwards Lord Sydenham,
sent out as Governor in 1841, died from the
injuries sustained by being thrown from a
horse. Mr. J. Ross Robertson s " Land
marks of Toronto " contains the following
reference to him:
" Beverley House ( the residence of Chief
Justice Robinson in Toronto) was tempor
arily the residence of Poulett Thomson,
afterwards Lord Sydenham, who was Gover
nor-General of the Canadas in 1839-40. It
136
OF TORONTO OF OLD
is said that he built the kitchen range con
nected with the house and that this was the
indirect cause of getting the Union measure
through the Upper Canada Parliament.
Poulett Thomson gave an insight into his
manner of life in a letter written to a friend
in 1840 from Montreal, but which may be
applied to his life in Beverley House as
well. He says, * Work in my room till three
o clock and ride with my aide-de-camp till
five; work again till dinner; at dinner till
nine and work again until early next morn
ing. This is my daily routine. After estab
lishing the Union of Upper and Lower Can
ada, Poulett Thomson was raised to the
peerage with the title of Baron Sydenham
of Sydenham in Kent, and Toronto in Can
ada. He died in 1841 in Kingston, through
a fall from his horse as he was preparing to
return to England."
He was buried in Kingston and had a very
large funeral cortege of military men and
citizens, who marched to the booming of
minute-guns. The schools were closed to give
the scholars an opportunity to see the pro
cession. Another funeral there which I
remember having a holiday to attend was
that of the Rev. Mr. Cartwright, who was a
man universally esteemed and I believe was
the father of Sir Richard ( art \vright.
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Lord Sydenham was succeeded by Sir
Charles Bagot, who resigned on account of
ill-health in 1842, and died soon after. Dr.
Scadding, in his " Toronto of Old," gives a
full description of the ceremonies connected
with the laying of the corner-stone of the
proposed University, near the head of Col
lege Avenue, Toronto, on April 23rd, 1842,
which was a very imposing affair, in which
Sir Charles Bagot took part, and refers to
him as follows :
" The Chancellor above spoken of was the
Governor-General of the day, Sir Charles
Bagot, a man of noble bearing and genial,
pleasant aspect. He entered with all the
more spirit into the ceremonies described
from being himself a graduate of one of the
old universities. Memories of far-off Oxford
and Christ Church would be sure to be
aroused amidst the proceedings that ren
dered the 23rd April, 1842, so memorable
amongst us. A brother of Sir Charles was
at the time Bishop of Oxford. In his suite,
as one of his secretaries, was Captain Henry
Bagot, of the Royal Navy, his own son. Pre
ceding him in the procession, bearing a
gilded mace, was an l Esquire Bedell, like
the Chancellor a Christ Church man, Mr.
William Cayley, subsequently a member of
the Canadian Government." Canada seems
138
OF TORONTO OF OLD
to have been an unfortunate place for those
bearing the name of " Sir Charles." In addi
tion to the deaths of Sir Charles Poulett
Thomson and Sir Charles Bagot, Sir Charles
Chichester, colonel of one of the regiments,
died in Toronto in 1848.
The building for which the ground was
broken and the foundation stone laid was
not completed, and was only used for a short
time for the purpose for which it was
intended. I remember it as a lunatic
asylum. Referring to this Dr. Scadding
says : " In 1856 its fortune was to be con
verted into a female department for the
overcrowded Provincial lunatic asylum."
Sir Charles Bagot was succeeded by Sir
Charles Metcalfe, who came to Kingston,
either late in March or in the beginning of
April, apparently by way of the United
States, as he was conveyed across the river
from Long Island to Kingston on the ice
(which was then covered with slush) in a
large open boat placed on runners, there
being some fear that the ice might break.
He was accompanied by his aide-de-camp
and, I think, some of the members of the
City Council. As his coming was expected,
T with boyish curiosity went down to the
land ing and saw him arrive.
139
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
When the news of the birth of the Prince
of Wales (King Edward), who was born
November 9, 1841, reached Kingston, there
was great rejoicing. There were fireworks
and a general illumination, and as there was
no gas at the time the houses could only be
illuminated by candles. These were held in
little tin sockets, the brackets supporting
them, having a sharp end, being inserted in
the sashes of the windows, one being placed
before each pane (the usual size of the panes
being seven by nine inches). In speaking
afterwards of this illumination to an old
lady in Toronto, she said : " Oh, that s noth
ing to what we had at the time of the cor
onation of Queen Victoria (which was by
candles ) . The lights were so brilliant that
you could see to pick up a pin in the street."
I think the eyesight of people must have
been better in those days than at the present
time.
I remember seeing the launching of the
steamer Cherokee (built as a man-of-war)
in the little bay between Point Frederick
and Fort Henry. She w r as quite a large
vessel, I find of seven hundred tons burden.
Some time ago I saw a statement in one of
our papers that for the last one hundred
years there had not only been no fortresses
but also no war vessels built on either side
140
OF TORONTO OF OLD
of the lakes or boundaries between Canada
and the United States. This is certainly
incorrect as, in addition to the Cherokee,
there were the Traveller and another vessel,
the Minos, which was stationed in Penetan-
guishene for many years. Late in the
forties, when I was in the Post Office, T saw
numbers of letters and papers addressed to
the officers and men, " H.M.S. Minos, Pene-
tanguishene."* Besides this, some martello-
towers were erected in the harbor of
Kingston.
When visiting the Parliament Buildings
one day Mr. Michael Keating, who was the
housekeeper and who in 1834 kept the Brit
ish Coffee House in Toronto, allowed me,
much to my delight, to look through Audu-
bon s " The Birds of America," a magnifi
cent work, colored and all of full size. When
in a lawyer s office there I for the first time
saw envelopes for letters, which had recently
come into use. I then heard a discussion as
to whether they should be called " aunvel-
opes " or " envelopes." Hitherto the folded
sheet of paper on which the letter was
written was secured by a wafer or sealing-
wax.
* These vessels were in a few years either dis
mantled or changed to merchant ships in accordance
with an agreement between Great Britain and the
United States.
141
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XX.
TORONTO IN 181,3.
IN 1843, very much to my satisfaction, we
returned to Toronto, my father having
secured a lease of the North American
Hotel. I found that during my absence con
siderable changes had taken place. On the
south side of King Street, between Church
and Market Streets, a row of three-storey
buildings called the City Buildings, and on
the same side, between Church Street and
Leader Lane, the Victoria Buildings, and
further on, between Leader Lane and Yonge
Streets, the Adelaide Buildings, had been
erected. These buildings, together with the
Waterloo Buildings and Chewett s, between
Bay and York Streets, and the Wellington
Buildings on the north side between Church
and Toronto Streets, gave King Street quite
a handsome appearance. There certainly
was a great deal more uniformity in the
heights of the buildings than there is at the
present time. The buildings on both sides
of the street, between George Street and the
Market Square, were almost all of brick and
142
IIARTK S SCHOOL. AS IT STOOD UNTIL RECENTLY ON
CHURCH STREET.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
of the regular height of three stories, as were
those on the north side between Francis
Street and the Cathedral grounds. There
was a row of poplar trees in front of the
Cathedral, which were cut down in 1845.
On the east side of Church Street, between
Queen and Shuter Streets, where there had
been an orchard, a long row of two-storey,
several three-storey, and a large one and
one-half storey building on the corner of
Shuter Street, where the Elliott House now
stands, had been built. These buildings
became the residences of many of our best
citizens. I might say that up to this time,
and considerably later, most of the retail
merchants lived over their shops.
HARTE S SCHOOL.
The first school that I attended on our
return from Kingston was that kept by Mr.
Thomas H. Harte in a small building (to
which I have already referred) on the west
side of Church Street, between Richmond
and Queen Streets. Mr. Harte was a short
man, a little over five feet in height, rather
stout, bald and clean shaven. He wore n
large pair of spectacles, had a typical Irish
face and a good deal of Irish humor. He
was a pretty severe disciplinarian, had some
143
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
favorites, and was not always just in his
punishments. He used a whip, which he
called " taws," consisting of nine leather
thongs attached to a handle, with which he
inflicted pretty severe punishment. After
he whipped a boy he would often say, " Now
take up your bed and walk," and sometimes
gave other injunctions to the boys which are
hardly fit for publication. He was a very
good Latin and Greek scholar, and some of
the university, medical and law students
came to him after school to " grind/ 1
Mr. Harte used to sit on a high desk on
one side of the schoolroom, with his back to
the wall, and around the other three sides
was arranged a row of benches with desks
in front of them, where the boys sat, every
one with his back to the master and his face
to the wall. By this arrangement the mas
ter could watch every boy s movements
unknown to him and give them a " sur
prise " if they were found doing anything
out of the way. Up to this time only goose-
quill pens were used in the schools (steel
pens not being introduced until several
years later), and it took the master con
siderable time to sharpen them.
Mrs. Harte, in striking contrast to her
husband, was tall, thin and dark and of a
very kindly disposition, and occasionally
144
OF TORONTO OF OLD
interceded for the boys when she thought
they were being punished too severely.
Before punishing a boy Mr. Harte always
mentioned how many blows, or, as he
expressed them, " pandies," he was to
receive, part on one hand and part on the
other. I remember John Dixon used to
dispute the count with the master and
cause him a great deal of confusion and
anger, but John generally beat him on the
count.
There were between twenty and thirty boys
in the school and amongst them some who
afterwards occupied prominent positions.
Those whom I remember were Benjamin
and William Harte, sons of the master ; Ray
mond Baby (pronounced Baubee), who was
either a relative or a son of Mr. Baby, the
owner of a large tract of land called the
Baby farm, south of Dundas Street between
Jane Street and the Humber; Livius and
John King, sons of Dr. John King, one of
our most prominent physicians (Livius
afterwards became an officer in the British
Army and John a physician) ; Walter and
Henry Kidd, sons of Mr. John Kidd, jailer;
Alexander (usually called "Peach")
Bethune, son of Mr. Angus Bethune and a
nephew of Bishop Bethune ; Erastus Wiman,
who became the financial reporter for the
10 145
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Globe newspaper, afterwards the well-
known member of the firm of Dunn and
Wiman, mercantile agency, and subse
quently prominent as an advocate of com
mercial union between Canada and the
United States. He was a wonderfully enter
prising, energetic and progressive man and
the promoter of many large undertakings,
but did not always display wisdom in his
methods. He died on February 9th, 1904,
at the age of seventy years. Maunsell B.
Jackson (previously mentioned) ; E. W.
Gardner, brother-in-law of Mr. J. Ross Rob
ertson; John Dixon, Robert A. Harrison
and James Tilt, afterwards a Q.C., and a
member of the firm of Messrs. Mulock,
Crowther and Tilt, a very sound and safe
lawyer. Robert A. Harrison was a son of
the clerk of the market, He was a man of
great energy, industry and ability, who rose
to a high position in the legal profession
and became a Judge of one of the Superior
Courts. He was the author of the Common
Law Procedure Act and the Municipal
Manual. He, as well as all the other
scholars named excepting Maunsell B.
Jackson, have passed away.
John Dixon had a good deal of dry Irish
humor, and, though a troublesome boy, was
very kind-hearted. He was a son of Mr.
146
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Alexander Dixon, one of our prominent
merchants, a brother of Canon Dixon of St.
Catharines and a cousin of Canon Dixon of
Trinity Church, Toronto. He was not suc
cessful as a business man and married some
what late in life a beautiful lady, who died
not long after. Later on John got " off,"
but was taken hold of by the Salvation
Army, which he joined, and subsequently
spent most of his time selling War Cries.
In any weather and at almost any hour he
could be seen at his work, shuffling along the
street, and as he had become very lame he
was really a pathetic figure. (In one of
Bell-Smith s pictures of King Street he may
be seen and recognized.)
One day when crossing Church Street,
near the corner of Gerrard, he was run over
by a street car and killed. This was in
April, 1903, and he was then seventy-two
years of age. Poor John! He was a very
decent, kind, good-hearted fellow, and I
believe a sincere Christian. I cannot but
feel that to be taken away suddenly was
the best thing for him.
147
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXI.
THE PROGRESS OF THE CITY.
TORONTO grew steadily but not rapidly
until 1850, the increase until that time being
about one thousand per annum. The popu
lation in 1845 was 19,706; in 1850, 25,166;
in 1851, 30,762 ; in 1852, 35,000, and in 1853,
40,000. After that date the growth was very
slow for many years. About the middle of
the forties quite a number of new buildings
were erected. The Post Office was moved
from the south-west corner of Yonge and
Front Streets to Wellington Street (the
present site of the Imperial Bank). The
Bank of Montreal erected a new building
on the old Post Office site, the architect
being Mr. Kivas Tully. This building was
replaced later on by the present handsome
one. A new Customs House was built on
the site of the present Customs House, of
which the architect was Mr. John Tully,
and a new Commercial Bank building was
erected on Wellington Street, opposite Jor
dan Street, the main portion of which is still
standing. The Bank of British North
148
KXOX CHURCH.
Which stood on Queen Street, just west of Yonge, until removed
to make way for the new Simpson Building.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
America erected a stone structure on the
north-east corner of Yonge and Wellington
Streets, and the Eichmond Street Methodist
Church (site of the present Book Room)
was erected in 1844. It had a very large
gallery and a seating capacity for about two
thousand. For many years nearly all of the
large public religious gatherings were held
there. The St. George s Church was opened
in 1845. On the occasion a grand musical
service was given in the church by the choir
of St. James Cathedral under the conduc-
torship of Dr. J. P. Clarke, at which I was
one of the boy singers. I remember that
amongst the pieces was the " Hallelujah
Chorus " from Beethoven s " Mount of
Olives," and the " For unto us " Chorus
from " The Messiah."
The old Knox Church building was
destroyed by fire in 1847 and the new build
ing (which was torn down some years ago
to make room for the Simpson store) was
erected in the same year. It had a very
handsome spire. The Rev. Dr. Robert
Burns, the minister at this time, was a
plain-looking, short, stout man with a con
siderable stoop. He was an earnest and
devoted Christian and an able preacher.
The United Presbyterian Church on the
south-east corner of Richmond and Bay
149
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Streets (usually called Jennings Church),
of which the Rev. Dr. John Jennings was
pastor, was erected in 1843. The architect
of this church, as well as Knox Church, was
Mr. William Thomas. This building was
also torn down a number of years since and
the building of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons erected on the site. I remem
ber one of the pinnacles at one of the corners
of the church being blown down in a great
storm, which occurred in the early sixties.
Mr. Robertson, in his " Landmarks of
Toronto," says that " the stone in. its flight
downwards detached a piece of wood with a
nail in it, which also fell, the nail piercing
a Testament in one of the gallery pews and
punctured the book through to the text,
Matt. 7 : 25, And the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not; for it was
founded upon a rock.
I was personally acquainted with Dr. Jen
nings, who was a very genial man and highly
respected and popular, not only by his
own congregation, but by the general public.
His three sons were Mr. William Jennings,
one of the chief engineers of the Canadian
Pacific Railway and our City Engineer ; Mr.
Bernard Jennings, a manager of the
Imperial Bank, and Mr. Robert Jennings,
manager of the Bank of Commerce, Paris,
150
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Ontario. Messrs. William and Bernard
Jennings have passed away.
ST. MICHAEL S CATHEDRAL.
The excavation for the foundation of the
Eoman Catholic Cathedral commenced on
April 7th, 1845, and on this occasion an ox
donated by James Wickson, the butcher, was
roasted whole on the western portion of the
grounds near Bond Street. It took two days
and a night to roast. It was not eaten on
the premises, but a number of people cut off
pieces of meat and took them away with
them. I went up occasionally to watch the
crowd of men who were digging out the
earth for the foundation, and it was quite
an animated scene. The work was done
voluntarily by the adherents of the church,
and the Honorable John Elmsley seems to
have had charge of the whole affair and
worked like the rest with his coat off. The
earth taken out was carted away to fill up
the hollow on Queen Street, which had just
been opened between George and Sherbourne
Streets, through the Honorable William
Allan s property.
The Cathedral was built largely through
tin", enterprise, oversight and liberality of
Bishop Poxvrr and the Hon. John Elmsley.
151
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Mr Matthew O Connor has furnished me
with the following information regarding
the Bishop and the steps taken to build the
church, which was a very great undertaking
at the time, when the population of the city
was under twenty thousand. Referring to
the Bishop, who I might say was highly
respected by all classes of the citizens, both
Protestant and Catholic, he said : " He was
born October 17th, 1804, and was conse
crated Bishop at Laprairie in May, 1842;
arrived at Toronto, June 29th, 1842, and
died at Toronto October 1st, 1847. He
bought with his own money for eighteen
hundred pounds (currency, $7,200) the site
for the Cathedral and all the land from
Shuter up to McGill Street between Bond
and Church Streets from the Honorable
Peter McGill. He was found much fault
with because he selected the site for the
Cathedral ( then a vegetable garden ) out
side of the town. Mr. William Thomas was
the architect and the contractors were John
Harper for masonry, brick work and car
penter work; Ishmael Iredale, tinsmith
work; John Craig, painter (to whom Mr.
O Connor was then an apprentice, and as he
was the only Roman Catholic in Mr. Craig s
employ he afterwards gave him charge of
the painting of the window sashes inside of
152
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the church). The corner-stone was laid by
the Bishop on May 8th, 1847, and the
Cathedral dedicated September 29th, 1848.
Only the lower part of the tower was built
at this time.
As I was always interested in new build
ings, I used to watch the progress made in
the erection of the church. I remember
when the spire was erected, also the cross,
which is fifteen feet high, making the total
height of the spire to the top of the cross
two hundred and fifty feet. The height to
the top of the vane of St. James Cathedral
spire is three hundred and six feet said to
be the highest in America. I have always
considered that the tower of St. Michael s
was too narrow for so large a building,
being only about twenty-five feet square,
while that of St. James Cathedral is fully
thirty feet. Mr. Harper strongly urged
upon the architect and building committee
to have it built wider, but owing mainly
to the additional expense his proposition
was not carried out. As there were not
sufficient funds left to carry on and com
plete the work, Captain Elmsley mort
gaged his property and gave a bond to
the Bank of Upper Canada for forty-
eight thousand pounds. Mr. O Connor
says that penny building collections were
153
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
taken up weekly in the church and that
sometimes there were two and even three
bucketfuls of pennies.
The colonel of one of the regiments, Sir
Charles Chichester, was buried in the tran
sept before the building was finished. I
remember the funeral. Two regiments of
the line and the artillery formed part of the
procession, and the streets were lined with
soldiers all the way from St. Paul s Church
on Power Street to the Cathedral.
154
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXII.
THE GREAT FIRE OF 18J,9.
ON the morning of Saturday, April 7th,
1849, Toronto was visited by the most
destructive fire that had taken place up to
that time in the city, and which I witnessed.
It was discovered in the rear of Graham s
tavern on King Street and the Post tavern
on Nelson Street. It crossed over to King
Street East, burned all the buildings on
both sides of Nelson Street between Ade
laide and King Streets; all the buildings on
King Street from Nelson Street to the
grounds of St. James Cathedral, the spire
of which took fire from a burning ember
at about three o clock in the morning and
could readily have been extinguished had
the fire engines been powerful enough, but
the fire soon reached the building of the
church and it was completely destroyed.
About the same time the fire broke out in
the old City Hall, which was consumed.
Among the burned buildings was that of
Mr. Thomas D. Harris, who, considering it
to be perfectly fireproof, all the windows
155
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
being protected by iron shutters and the
roof covered with tin, refused to have any of
its contents removed. It was watched with
great interest, but after the adjoining build
ings were partially consumed, so great was
the heat that it had also to succumb.
A very sad occurrence took place at this
fire. Mr. Richard Watson, publisher of The
Upper Canada Gazette, with whom I was
acquainted, went up to the top storey of the
Patriot Office, at the corner of Nelson and
King Streets, to save some type, when the
floor gave way beneath and he was burned
beyond recognition.
156
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXIII.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY IN 1850.
IN addition to what I have said regarding
the progress of Toronto between the time of
my coming to the city (1839) and 1850, the
following extracts from a description of the
city given in Rowsell s Directory, 1850-51,
will prove interesting. Referring to King
Street it says :
" Toronto contains upwards of one hun
dred streets, some of which are of great
length, and King Street, the main street of
the city, is one of the finest in America. The
shops on this street, which display extensive
stocks of goods, are finished and decorated
in the English style and in appearance some
of them would bear comparison with those
of Regent Street, London. Many houses on
King Street pay a ground rent of 100 and
200, and 250 is not an uncommon rent for
those most centrally situated. The public
and private buildings on this street are
Trinity Church and schoolhouse attached;
Copeland s brewery; Berkeley House (the
residence of C. C. Small, Esq.), which is
157
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
said to be partially built upon the logs of a
fisherman s hut purchased for a temporary
residence by Mr. Small s father upon his
arrival with Governor Simcoe some fifty or
sixty years since, when not a single house
was to be seen on the ground which now
forms the site of this metropolis; the sub
stantial residence of Mrs. J. S. Baldwin ; the
St. Lawrence Hall and buildings ; St. James
Cathedral (in course of erection) ; the
Farmers Bank; Royal Lyceum; Ellah s
Hotel ; Club House ; old Government House ;
County of York Land Office; Normal and
Model Schools ; Upper Canada College, and
the Toronto General Hospital."
The following is a description of the city
in the same Directory by the editor of the
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, after his
return from a recent visit of the citizens of
Buffalo to Toronto :
" Toronto is a much larger and more beau
tiful place than we had anticipated finding.
It now contains about twenty-seven thou
sand inhabitants, being somewhat over half
as large as Buffalo. Its streets are regularly
laid out at right angles and are wide and
generally well paved. There is more uni
formity in the buildings than is to be found
here the constant recurring extremes of
high and low, of good and poor, do not exist.
158
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
They are mostly of brick on the business
streets and of three rather high stories.
King Street is the principal street, and very
much resembles our Main. There are sev
eral others upon which there are elegant
stores and other places of business, which
extend considerable distances. King Street
is two miles in length and Yonge Street
extends into the country. The citizens
have paid much attention to parks and trees
and shrubbery and public grounds, in which
particulars they are ahead of us. There are
many pleasant places in all parts of the city,
which render it very attractive. There are
many elegant private residences; and in
public buildings, with the exception of
churches, Buffalo cannot make a show
alongside of Toronto. In addition to the
St. Lawrence Hall, already described, there
is the Osgoode Hall, a fine edifice, in which
lawyers do mostly congregate. There are
also others, and some fine churches, of which
the cathedral of the Roman Catholics stands
at the head, for architectural beauty, of
those which came under our observation.
College Avenue is one of the most splendid
places we ever saw anywhere, and the
grounds attached to the Toronto College, to
which the avenue leads, are spacious and
well laid out, By the way, the annual pub-
159
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
lie recitations took place at this college on
Wednesday, which was an occasion of much
interest. The Governor-General, who takes
an active interest in educational matters,
was present and conferred the prizes, in
doing which he addressed the recipients in
a very felicitous manner. Up the lake, a
short distance from the city, is the lunatic
asylum for Canada West. It is a large
building, or rather a series of buildings, of
brick, and designed for the accommodation
of some four hundred patients. There are
now in it, we understand, about two hun
dred and forty. The harbor of Toronto is
a natural one, formed by an island, or a
Presque Isle, sweeping around the bay a
mile or so and about two miles from the
shore, thus forming one of the safest and
most commodious harbors we ever saw,
much resembling Erie, Pa. The water is of
a good depth in all parts of the bay. The
docks and wharves, however, are very defi
cient, and all along the bay there are no
indications of very active commercial busi
ness. Steamboats of the British and Ameri
can lines are constantly arriving and depart
ing. The country round about Toronto is
rich and productive and highly cultivated;
were it not so, so large a population could
scarcelv be sustained, as the lake business
/ /
160
OF TORONTO OF OLD
does not contribute a great deal to the build
ing up and support of the city.* The Pro
vincial Government has done much to pro
mote agriculture, and the Agricultural
Society of Upper Canada, which held its
annual fair at Niagara on the 15th and 16th
of September, has also been a highly valu
able instrument in producing a similar
result. The people of Canada are pioneers
in the construction of plank roads, from
which Toronto has derived much benefit."
The following description of the Gover
nor-General s residence is from the same
paper :
" Elmsley Villa, the residence of the Gov
ernor-General, is situated about a mile and
a half from the bay on Yonge Street. The
grounds embrace twelve acres, are the pro
perty of an English gentleman named
Macaulay, and are rented by Lord Elgin.
The residence is approached through an
avenue, beautifully lined on either side with
a forest of shrubbery and shade trees. The
house is but an ordinary structure, being a
* " With great deference to the statement, we think
the narrator is slightly in error. In corrobora-
tion of our opinion, we would beg to refer to the
number and tonnage of the vessels owned in the city
and the amount of Customs duties received at the
port of Toronto."
11 161
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
two-storey- roughcast building, the rooms
not very spacious, but ample enough, we
suppose, for all practical purposes. The
grounds, however, are delightfully laid out
with winding ways and { shady groves and
love-provoking bowers, interspersed with
smoothly-mown lawns."
168
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NATIONALITIES.
THE following is a comparative statement
of the different nationalities of the residents
of Toronto in 1850, 1881 and 1911 :
Popula
tion,
1850.
Per
cent.
Popula
tion,
1881.
Per
cent.
Popula
tion.
1911.
Per
cent.
England and
Wales . . .
4,227
16
.8
14
,674
17
.0
71
,064
19
.0
Scotland . . .
1,994
7
.9
4
,435
5
.1
19
,990
5
.3
Ireland ....
8,701
34
.5
10
,781
12
.4
15
,996
4
.2
Can. British
(Ont.) ...
9,009
35
.7
48
,819
56
.4
224
,587
60
.0
Can. French
(Que.) ...
260
1
.03
2,324
2
.7
4
,244
1
.1
Other parts
of the Do
minion . .
. - .
. ,
346
.4
2
,475
.65
United States
726
2
.8
3
,367
3
.8
11
,559
3
.0
Germany . .
83
.31
492
.6
1
,290
.03
Italy
63
3
,086
1
.0
Russia ....
. . .
. .
.
* *
,
.
10
,035
2.9
Other coun
tries ....
166
.7
1
,114
1.3
12
,134
3.2
Total 25,166 86,415 376,460
The falling-off of the percentage of Irish is
very noticeable. The immigration from Ire-
163
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
land from 1847 to 1850, during the time of
the famine and for some time after, was very
large, and Canada seems to have had the
preference over the United States, while
now, and for some time past, the United
States has had by far the largest per
centage. Of late years the increase in
immigration from England to Canada has
been considerable, while there has been a
slight falling-off in the immigration from
Scotland.
The only Jewish residents and firms in
Toronto in 1850 that I can remember were
Marcus Rossin and Brother, A. and S.
Nordheimer, J. G. Joseph, Benjamin and
Co., Alfred Braham and Samuel Casper. I
can remember only two Italian families.
According to the census in 1911 there were
18,143 Jews and 4,997 Italians ! Of course
the number of both Jews and Italians has
greatly increased since then.
Somewhere about forty or fifty years ago
a Chinaman was a curiosity, and a visit of
two or three mandarins about fifty years ago
created quite an excitement, while to-day
the Chinese residents of Toronto number
nearly two thousand.
The following is a statement of the immi-
164
OF TORONTO OF OLD
gration into Upper Canada, taken from the
Canadian Journal of June, 1854 :
1840 21,190
1841 28,937
1842 44,374
1843 20,142
1844 25,375
1845 29,253
1846 32,736
1847 90,150
1848 . 27,939
1849 38,494
1850 32,292
1851 41,076
Total 431,958
It was estimated that not more than one-
half of the above made this Province their
permanent abode, a number having passed
through to the United States.
The following is a statement of the nation
alities of the inhabitants of Upper Canada,
taken from the 1848 census report :
Per cent.
English 64,560 8.9
Scotch 57,604 8.0
Irish " 140,673 19.5
French Canadian 20,490 2.8
British Canadian 383,084 53.3
Germans 7,730 1.07
United States 32,579 4.5
Other countries 11,117 1.5
717,837
An article from the (Quebec Chronicle,
quoted in the Leader newspaper, Toronto,
165
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
of January 25th, 1862, contains the state
ment that according to the census of 1861
the French Canadians were in the minority
in the following cities, towns and counties
of Lower Canada: Argenteuil, Compton,
Missisquoi, Pontiac, Sherbrooke, Brome,
Huntingdon, Montreal, Richmond and Stan-
stead. Since then there has been a great
change in the nationalities of the inhabit
ants of most of these places. The census
report of 1911 shows that in Montreal, with
a total population of 470,480, there were
but 121,128 inhabitants, or not quite 26 per
cent., of British origin; those of French
origin being 298,878, or someAvhat over 60
per cent., the balance being made up of other
nationalities, of which 27,948 were Jews.
In the city of Sherbrooke with a total
population of 16,405, there were 5,056, or
about 31 per cent., of British origin, and
10,766, or nearly 66 per cent., of French
origin. Regarding the other places named,
those showing a majority of English are
Brome and Huntingdon; those showing a
slight majority of French, Argenteuil, Pon
tiac and Stanstead; and those showing a
large majority of French, Missisquoi, Comp
ton and Richmond.
According to the census report in 1861,
when the total population was only 44,821,
166
OF TORONTO OF OLD
there were 510 colored people in Toronto,
and in 1911 there were only 472. The total
colored population in Upper Canada at the
former date was 11,223, principally located
in the counties of Essex and Kent, where
there were 6,659. These counties being close
to the United States, large numbers of col
ored people, escaped slaves, fled there from
the Northern States after the passing of the
Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, giving the
owner full power to arrest a slave in any
State to which he might have fled, either
personally or through an especially author
ized agent. Since the abolition of slavery in
the United States in 1865 very few colored
people have found their way into Canada.
The tendency has been in the other direction.
167
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXV.
BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE principal wholesale and retail dry
goods establishments in Toronto in the lat
ter part of the forties were Messrs. Bryce,
McMurrich and Co., William McMaster,
Isaac C. Gilmor, Gilmor and Coulson, John
Robertson, Shaw and Turnbull, Walter
MacFarlane, Ross and McLeod, Andrew
McGlashen, A. Lawrie and Co., Bowes and
Hall, Scott and Laidlaw, Ross, Mitchell and
Co., McKeand and Patterson, John Ewart,
Jr., and Co., Peter Paterson, George B.
Wyllie, W. L. Perrin and Co., Betley and
Kay, and Moffatt, Murray and Co. In this
branch of business the Scotch element
loomed up very largely. With the excep
tion of Messrs. William McMaster, Matthew
Betley, W. L. Perrin and Co., Lewis Moffatt,
and Bowes and Hall, all the firms and indi
viduals were Scotch, as were also the mana
gers of the Bank of Montreal (Mr. William
Wilson), the Commercial Bank (John Cam
eron), and the Bank of British North
America (W T . G. Cassels). The other banks
were the Bank of Upper Canada and the
168
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Farmers the latter a very small institu
tion. This is all the more remarkable when
it is considered that out of a population of
a trifle over twenty-five thousand there were
only about 1,994, or a little under 8 per
cent., natives of Scotland in Toronto. It
used to be said that an Irishman is never
at peace except when he is at war, an Eng
lishman never happy except when he is mis
erable and a Scotchman never at home
except when he is abroad. Evidently the
Scotchmen in Toronto not only made them
selves at home but secured pretty much the
best of what was to be had. It has also been
said that Aberdeen is about the only place
in which a Jew could not make a living.
But why does a Scotchman succeed so well?
Is it not because of his usual characteristics
enterprise, caution, business foresight and
integrity?
The principal hardware establishments
were Workman Brothers and Co., EL S.
Scott and Co., (afterwards Rice Lewis and
Son), Kidout Brothers and Co., Thomas
D. Harris, Robert H. Brett and Peter Pat-
erson and Sons. The drug firms were
Lyman, Kneeshaw and Co., Joseph Beckett
and Co., R. Tuton, J. C. Bettridge, Hugh
Miller and S. F. Urquhart. The prin
cipal groceries, Smith and Macdonell, Foy
169
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
and Austin, Thomas Brunskill, George
Munro, F. and G. Perkins, M. P. Hayes,
Charles Robertson, and Thomas Rigney
(afterwards Whittemore, Rutherford and
Co. ) . There were the jewellery firms of J. G.
Joseph and Co., Rossin Brothers, Morphy
Brothers, and George Savage, the piano firm
of A. and S. Nordheimer, the important
wholesale and retail furrier business of
Joseph Rogers, established in 1815, and the
foundries of J. R. Armstrong and Co., James
Good, George H. Cheney and Co., and
George B. Spencer.
The wholesale business developed very
considerably during the latter part of the
forties. Of the above-named business firms,
twenty-five were wholesale establishments.
The manufactories at this time were four
foundries, three cabinet factories, three
coach-building establishments, three soap
and candle factories, three bookbinders
establishments, two breweries, two distiller
ies, and a chair, a wagon, an axe, a pail, a
paper, a starch, a woodenware and a hat
factory.
THE LAWYERS.
The most important legal firms were
Messrs. Crawford, Hagarty and Crookshank
(Hon. John Crawford, Lieutenant-Gover-
170
OF TORONTO OF OLD
nor, Hon. J. H. Hagarty, Chief Justice, and
George Crookshank, Jr. ) ; Messrs. Blake,
Morrison and Connor (Honorables William
Hume Blake, Chancellor, Joseph C. Morri
son, and Skeffington Connor, Judges) ;
Messrs. Burns, Mowat and VanKoughnet
(Honorables E. E. Burns, Judge, Oliver
Mowat, Premier of Ontario, and P. M. Van
Koughnet, Chancellor) ; Messrs. Wilson and
Smith (Honorable Adam Wilson, Judge,
and Dr. Larratt W. Smith, Chancellor of
the University) ; Mr. Henry Eccles, one of
the foremost criminal lawyers in the coun
try; Messrs. Cameron, Brock and Robinson
(Honorable J. Hillyard Cameron, George
Brock and Honorable J. B. Robinson, Lieu
tenant-Governor) ; Messrs. Turner, Gwynne
and Bacon (Robert John Turner, Honor
able J. W. Gwynne, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, and William Vynne
Bacon) ; Messrs. Robinson and Allan (Sir
James Lukin Robinson and Honorable G. W.
Allan). Messrs. Clarke Gamble and W. H.
Boulton, M.P.P., were also prominent bar
risters and solicitors.
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS RESIDING IN
TORONTO.
Doctors Widmer, Badgley, King, Herrick,
Bo veil. Workman, Morrison, Burnside,
171
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Rolph, O Brien, Holmes, Hornby, Mcllmur-
ray, Primrose, Telfer, Beaumont, Derry,
Gamble, Hallowell, Hodder, Macdonald,
Nicol, Rees, Richardson, Robinson, Russell,
Scott, Gynne, Stradford and Travers.
THE ARCHITECTS.
The principal architects at the time were
Messrs. William Thomas, architect of the
Roman Catholic Cathedral, Knox Church,
United Presbyterian Church, the Congrega
tional Church on Adelaide Street, and the
St. Lawrence Hall; John G. Howard,*
architect of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum
and many other buildings; Cumberland
and Ridout (afterwards Cumberland and
Storm), architects of St. James Cathedral,
Provincial University and the Normal
School; Mr. Lane, architect of St. George s
Church; Kivas Tully, architect of Trinity
College and the Bank of Montreal ; Thomas
Young, architect of the old City Hall.
EXPRESS BUSINESS.
In 1845 my father gave up the North
American Hotel and took up the custom
* Mr. Howard deeded to the city the magnificent
park bearing his name, on condition that the city
pay him and his wife an annuity of $1,500 per annum.
172
OF TORONTO OF OLD
house brokerage business, and in 1846, in
connection with a Mr. Allen, organized the
first express business in Canada. The ser
vice was a weekly one, the route being from
Hamilton to Montreal. As the stages only
ran at the rate of six miles an hour, it took
about fifty-five hours to reach Montreal from
Toronto. The whole of the express matter
was carried in a box about three feet by two
feet six inches by two feet six inches !
On my father s appointment as chief clerk
of the Customs House in 1847 he gave up the
express business, which, I think, was not
continued by his partner. At that time the
whole staff of the Customs House consisted
of the Collector, Mr. Robert Stanton (for
merly Queen s Printer) ; Surveyor, Mr. John
Roy; Chief Clerk, my father, and one
landing-waiter.
BUILDING SOCIETIES.
These societies were introduced in Upper
Canada in 1846, and in Toronto alone in
1850 there were eight. The provisions of
these societies were generally as follows :
" The value of each share was $100 and pay
ments to realize this sum 10s. monthly, with
an entrance fee of from 2s. 6d. to 5s. to pay
for books, stationery and other preliminary
173
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
expenses, 7y 2 d. per month to cover all the
expenses of management, that the profits
may go on accumulating without any deduc
tion. The accumulation of profits in these
societies is very great, because of the whole
funds on hand being sold every month at
high rates of interest and at a considerable
premium the operation of compound inter
est upon the increase of the general fund is
very effective. Neither, though a borrower
apparently pays an exorbitant interest, does
he do so in reality, for he cannot be a bor
rower without being a shareholder. As such
he is to a certain degree a lender to himself,
and therefore his participation in gains
reduces very materially the percentage
which he seems to pay." The officers and
directors of these societies were amongst
our most prominent citizens and business
men.
These Building Societies were all termin
able within a limited period, and not per
manent, and after the time had run out
others were not formed to take their place,
as the results were by no means satisfac
tory. Some of them were converted into the
permanent building societies such as the
Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation.
174
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE POST OFFICE.
IN April, 1847, I applied for the position
of junior clerk in the Bank of Montreal.
The appointment was given to Mr. George
H. Wilson, a brother of Sir Adam Wilson,
who was a clerk in the Toronto Post Office
at the time and who remained in the service
of the Bank as accountant until superannu
ated, and I secured his position. The Post
Office at that time was on Wellington
Street, where the Imperial Bank now
stands. The delivery office was a low
one-storey building about thirty by twenty
feet, connected with the residence of the
Postmaster, which was a large, double two
storey building. The distributing office was
in what had been a cellar kitchen, about
twenty feet square, with a smoke-blackened
and never-whitened ceiling that, although
under medium height, I could touch with
my knuckles without tiptoeing. It was
really about seven feet in height. The space
in the delivery office allotted for the public
was about twelve by fifteen feet, the boxes,
175
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
which were four hundred in number, being
arranged at the end and one side of the
vestibule. There were two wickets, one
about six feet from an open door.
The Post Office was then under the
Imperial Government, Mr. Thomas Allan
Stayner being Deputy Postmaster-General.
The Postmaster was paid a salary, I do not
know how much, and as perquisites had the
rental of the boxes ($1.50 each) and the
postage of all the city drop-letters, he to
furnish the office and pay the clerks. The
Postmaster at this time was Mr. Charles
Berczy, a man of considerable ability and
enterprise, who became soon after the Presi
dent of the Consumers Gas Company and
was President of one of the Building Socie
ties. He was a handsome man verging upon
sixty years of age, was an inveterate snuff
user, very nervous, irritable and gloomy, and
extremely parsimonious. He was always
friendly and even confidential with me, for
whom he seemed to entertain a liking. I
am sorry to say that he committed suicide
in 1858.
The whole staff at this time consisted of
the Postmaster, three clerks and one letter-
carrier. John Armstrong, the chief clerk,
was a good book-keeper and an efficient
hand, a very plain man of about forty years
176
OF TORONTO OF OLD
of age. His salary was 75 ($300) per
annum. Christopher Walsh was the second
clerk, a bachelor, a dapper little Irishman
about fifty years of age, who dyed his hair
( not always very successfully ) . He always
wore a black frock coat and figured vest, his
trousers were strapped down to his boots,
on which he wore spats, and he usually car
ried a walking-stick. He always appeared
to know everybody and was extremely polite,
even obsequious. He subsequently obtained
a clerkship at the Toronto Customs House,
and later on became Collector of Customs
in Oshawa. His salary was 60 ($240) per
annum. I, as the junior clerk, received a
salary of 40 ($160) per annum, which was
not increased for three years. These sal
aries were all payable quarterly. The letter-
carrier was John McCloskey (a Scotch
man), an old pensioner, honest and faithful,
but gruff in his manners.
Postage stamps were not introduced until
1853, and letters could be sent either pre
paid or unpaid. The rates of postage were
regulated by the distance from the post
office from which the letters were mailed.
For instance, postage to such places as
Barrie, Hamilton and Oshawa was 4i/od.
currency (7c.) ; to St. Catharines, Brant-
ford and Lindsay, 7d. (12c.) ; to Kingston,
12 177
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Owen Sound and London, 9d. (15c.) ; to
Brockville, Windsor and Cornwall, ll^d.
( 19c. ) ; to Montreal, Ottawa (then Bytown) ,
Is.lVod (23c.) ; Three Rivers, Is. 4d. (27 c.) ;
Quebec, Is. 6d. (30c.) ; Halifax, 2s. 9y 2 d.
(55c.) ; to Great Britain, Is. 2d. sterling
Is. 4d. currency (27c.) ; to Lewiston, 4i/^d.
(7c.). The weight allowed was one-half
ounce, but a letter with one enclosure was
double, and with two or more enclosures,
if it did not weigh an ounce, was treble.
Letters weighing one ounce were chargeable
with four single rates. All letters unpaid
were stamped with black ink and those paid
stamped "paid with red ink. It can
readily be seen how troublesome it was to
collect the postage when delivering both
paid and unpaid letters at the wicket, with
a crowd of people clamoring for their mail.
The coinage used at the time added greatly
to this difficulty. Canada had no silver
coinage, the coins in use being the American
quarters, passing for Is. 3d. ; the English
shillings, passing for Is. 2i^d., and the
Mexican quarters (of which there were a
number in use), for Is. (20c.). The coppers
in use were those issued by the Bank of
Montreal, Joseph Leslie and Son, Dundas,
and some other firms. On one issued was a
picture of a vessel and on the reverse side
178
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the inscription, " Ships, Colonies and Com
merce." While our accounts were kept in
pounds, shillings and pence, we talked in
decimal currency, which was not introduced
until 1857. Accounts were kept with the
public institutions, merchants and reliable
people, bills being rendered monthly.
The mails from Canadian towns arrived
almost daily and the English mails fort
nightly. It was always customary to close
the wickets when sorting the mails, which
in the case of the English mail sometimes
took considerably over an hour. It can
readily be imagined that those who were
waiting for the delivery of the mail mani
fested considerable impatience, especially
during the winter months, when the office
was very cold. Sometimes loud complaints
of the waiting public were rather discon
certing to the clerks, w r ho were busy sorting
the mails, and as soon as the wickets were
opened there was an outcry and a tremen
dous crush. Punch in Canada used to poke
considerable fun at the management of the
Post Office and referred to the office staff
as " the man and the boy." I scarcely liked
this as, being about sixteen or seventeen
years of age, 1 thought I had got out of my
boyhood !
179
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
The office hours were from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
on week days, and on Sundays from 9 to 10
a.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m. If any mails hap
pened to come in just before closing time
(7 p.m.), which was not unfrequently the
case, the clerks had to stay and sort them,
if it took till nine o clock. Sometimes I
had to go to the office at six in the morning
to sort the mails, when I was given an hour
off between eight and ten for breakfast, but
at other times had breakfast before going to
work and often did not get off for dinner
until a couple of hours after one o clock.
There were no regular holidays.
The distributing office, of which I have
already given the dimensions, was some
thing over four feet below the level of the
ground. The only light in daytime was from
a window about four feet square, the glazed
panels of the entrance door ( through which
the mails were received), and whatever
light came down through the door from the
delivery office, the floor of which was about
four feet higher than that of the distribut
ing office. This cellar was very dark, and
occasionally the odor from a dead rat per
meated the place, in addition to the damp
ness and the odor from the sour paste on the
wrappers of the papers from the newspaper
offices, together with the dust from the dried
180
COPPER ( f)l\S IX I SK IX THK 4o s.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
mud on the leather and canvas mail bags,
when they were shaken to make room in
them for the packages of letters and papers.
There was also the smoke from an oil lamp
and the odor from the combustion of the
badly purified gas from the only two gas
brackets in the place, which but dimly
lighted the room. The Postmaster being
very loath to invest money for a new gas
burner, it was sometimes burnt from the gas
pipe itself.
I was only fifteen years of age when I
went into the Post Office, and as consider
ably over half of my time during five years
service in this building was spent in this
wretched, dingy hole with its foul atmos
phere, together with the close confinement,
Sunday work, no holidays and irregular
meal hours, the effect it had upon my health
can readily be understood, and after a few
years I became a confirmed dyspeptic and
almost a nervous wreck, and I sometimes
wonder that I lived through it all. The rest
of my time was spent in the upper office
stamping letters and attending to the
wickets. Attending the wicket in the winter
time was also an unpleasant occupation, as
it was only a few feet away from an open
door and one had to stand and face the
strong wintry blast and run the risk of tak-
181
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
ing cold. I have sometimes dreamed that I
was back in the Post Office again, and when
I awakened thanked God that it was but a
dream !
It may be asked why I remained in such
a place. I have only to say that circum
stances, apparently beyond my control, pre
vented me from doing otherwise.
My father died in January, 1849, my
mother having predeceased him by over a
year. At the time of his death Mr. Robert
Stanton, the Collector of Customs, very
kindly offered to endeavor to have me
appointed to his position as chief clerk, but
as I did not feel myself qualified for it, I
declined.
I have just learned, through the courtesy
of the Postmaster, that at the present time
(December 22nd, 1913) there are employed
468 clerks, 377 letter-carriers, 96 porters
and 50 temporary porters and letter-car
riers, making a total of 991, besides an extra
staff for Christmas of 335, as compared with
three clerks and one letter-carrier in 1847!
In 1852 the Canadian Government took
over the Post Office business, and in 1853
the office was removed to the present build
ing of the Receiver-General s Department
on Toronto Street, which was a considerable
improvement on the old premises, although
182
OF TORONTO OF OLD
by no means an ideal place. It was at this
time that locked drawers were introduced.
I was assigned the duty of planning and
arranging the system for sorting the letters
in the mailing department of the office.
There were no mail conductors or Post
Office Inspectors until after this change.
The first Postmaster-General was the Hon
orable James Morris and the first Post
Office Inspector Mr. Edward S. Freer. The
first mail conductors were Mr. Robert
McGillivray and a Mr. MacNamee. In 1852
the postage rate to any part of Canada was
reduced to 3d. (5c.) per half ounce, but the
rate to Great Britain remained as before.
On the Government taking over the busi
ness in 1852, Mr. Joseph Lesslie, who had
been Superintendent of the York Roads,
was appointed Postmaster and brought with
him as clerk Mr. Matthew Sweetnam, who
had been his assistant. Mr. Sweetnam after
wards became Post Office Inspector and
later on Chief Inspector for the Dominion.
Mr. Lesslie was superannuated in 1879 and
died January 6th, 1904, aged ninety years,
when Mr. T. C. Patteson was appointed as
his successor. Mr. Patteson, who died in
1907, was succeeded by Mr. Rogers, the
present Postmaster, who was appointed in
1908.
183
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
In 1852, from conscientious convictions,
I declined to work on Sundays and sent in
my resignation, which was not accepted, and
I retained my position in the office for two
years without being called upon to work on
the Lord s Day. Afterwards I several times
proposed to give up my position, but the
Postmaster still refused to let me go. In
the summer of 1854 my health became so
impaired that I asked for and received a
month s leave of absence, and on recom
mencing work, finding that my strength
was not sufficient for the discharge of my
duties, I insisted upon my resignation being
accepted and went away for a long rest to
a watering-place in the United States. I
returned to Toronto on September 6th,
somewhat improved in health, and on the
llth was appointed chief clerk of two in the
office of the Consumers Gas Company, in
whose employment I remained for fifty-
five years twenty as chief clerk, fourteen
as secretary and twenty-one as general
manager.
184
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE TELEGRAPH.
THE following account of the introduction
of the telegraph has been kindly furnished
by Mr. R. F. Easson:
" The telegraph was introduced into
Toronto in 1846. This was the first tele
graph line built in Canada. The line
extended from Toronto to Niagara via Ham
ilton and St. Catharines. Thomas D.
Harris, a well-known hardware merchant,
whose place of business was on the north
side of King Street immediately east of St.
James Cathedral, was president of the com
pany controlling this line. The line was
built by Samuel Porter, an American, who
afterwards became its superintendent. A
wire was suspended across the Niagara
River to connect the line at Queenston with
Lewiston and thereby forming connection
with Buffalo and other points in the United
States. Very little business was done on
this line until the Montreal Telegraph Com
pany came along in the spring of 1847 and
opened an office in Toronto. The office of
185
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
the Niagara line was in the John Ewart and
Company building, Front Street. The Com
pany occupied the room looking out into
Front Street and directly opposite Brown s
Wharf and nearly opposite F. and G. Per
kins and Company s wholesale grocery,
which was on the south side of Front Street.
The Montreal Company had a room imme
diately back of the Niagara Company s
office, and in the course of a year or two the
Montreal Company bought out the Niagara
Company and the offices were combined, the
Montreal Company joining forces with the
Niagara Company and moving into the room
looking out into Front Street. A small
space was partitioned off for the public, but
there were no facilities for writing mes
sages, merely a wicket through which the
messages for transmission were passed.
J. R. Marling succeeded Mr. Porter as mana
ger of the Niagara Company, but when the
Montreal Company bought out the former
company he resigned and later on became
the manager of the St. Catharines office.
" Mr. John Parsons, an American, was
the flrst regular manager of the Montreal
Telegraph Company s office at Toronto,
although quite a number of embryo opera
tors had been in charge previous to Parsons
appointment. Parsons was a married man
186
R. F. EASSOX.
One of the earliest telegraph operators in Canada, who entered
the employ of the Montreal Telegraph Company
as office hoy in 1849.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
and lived next door to the office. In 1850
Parsons resigned and H. P. Dwight, who
had been employed in the Montreal office,
was sent from Montreal, arriving here by
stage, to take Parsons place. Benjamin B.
Toye entered the employ of the Montreal
Telegraph Company in Toronto in 1848 as
office boy, and being an apt youngster,
speedily learned to operate, and when
Dwight arrived in Toronto Toye was a
fairly good operator and was then stationed
at London, Ontario. Toye died many years
ago, but became a distinguished telegrapher
before his death, with a continental reputa
tion as an inventor and expert electrician.
" R. F. Easson succeeded Toye as office
boy in 1849, and in the interim between
Toye s departure for London and Easson s
engagement, the messages, which averaged
about a dozen daily, were delivered by old
Mr. Lewis, the caretaker, who lived in the
basement of the building. It might be
remarked parenthetically that there was but
one postman in Toronto at that time a Mr.
McCloskev. Mr. Easson remained in the
employ of the Company for over sixty years,
and only retired from the business in 1910.
"Mr. Dwight, as is well known, died in
July, 1912, full of honors, and retained the
respect and esteem of the citizens of
187
BECOLLECTIONS AND KECOKDS
Toronto, where he had resided continuously
from 1850 until the time of his death. In
the early part of his incumbency here, he
and young Easson managed the entire
business of the Toronto office.
" The Montreal Telegraph Company in
1856 removed from the office on Front
Street to the Corn Exchange Building (now
the Imperial Bank) and occupying the site
w r here the Post Office stood during Mr.
Charles Berczy s reign as Postmaster. The
next move the Telegraph Company made
was into their present building, which they
erected in 1872, on the south-west corner of
Scott and Wellington Streets. Paddy Gra
ham, a well-known citizen, kept a boarding-
house, a long low one-storey wooden build
ing, for a great many years on the site where
the Great North- Western Telegraph Com
pany is now located, the latter company
having taken over the Montreal Company
in 1881.
" There is residing in this city at present
an old-time telegrapher, Mr. J. T. Townsend.
He entered the Montreal Telegraph Com
pany s service at Toronto in 1850. In that
year he was appointed to take charge of the
company s office at Queenston. Here he
remained two or three years, afterwards
removing to St. Catharines to accept a posi-
188
OF TORONTO OF OLD
tion in the Commercial Bank of Canada.
He remained in St. Catharines but a year or
two, when he returned to his first love and
accepted the management of the Montreal
Telegraph Company s office at Brantford.
At this place he remained until 1866, when
he was appointed to the dual office of Inspec
tor of the Montreal Telegraph Company and
Grand Trunk Railway Company s telegraph
offices. He held that position until about ten
years ago, when he retired. He is now eighty-
seven years of age. One of his sons, Mr.
Hamilton Townsend, is a well-known archi
tect of the city, and the other son, Charles J.
Townsend, is proprietor of the Antique Fur
niture and Art Gallery establishment at the
corner of Church and Carlton Streets. Not
withstanding his extreme age, Mr. Town-
send enjoys pretty good health, though com
pelled to keep to the house owing to an acci
dent to one of his legs three or four years
ago."
Mr. Easson, who still resides in Toronto,
is in very fair health.
189
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE VESSELS, AND THE ONTARIO,
SIMCOE AND HURON RAILWAY.
THE VESSELS.
I SHALL not attempt to give any detailed
account of marine matters in Toronto, but
there were quite a large number of steamers
and sailing craft belonging to the city ply
ing between Toronto and other ports
between the forties and fifties, most of
which I can remember. Amongst the steam
ers were the Admiral, Princess Royal, Sov
ereign, Eclipse, Traveller, America, City of
Toronto, Chief Justice Robinson, Queen
Victoria, Transit, Magnet, William the
Fourth, St. George, Gore, Britannia,
Cobourg, Peerless, Great Britain and Com
modore Barrie. Some of these boats were
not over two hundred tons burden and none
of them over fire hundred tons, nor had they
upper deck cabins. The William the Fourth
was remarkable for having four smoke
stacks, and the Chief Justice Robinson
(referred to previously) for her peculiar
190
OF TORONTO OF OLD
shaped bow. Their speed was from ten
to fourteen miles an hour, and it generally
took about three hours to cross from
Toronto to Niagara. A large number of
these vessels were owned by Messrs. Donald
Bethune, Andrew Heron and Captain
Thomas Dick.
The finest vessel coming to Toronto was
the Lady of the Lake, an American boat of
much larger size than the Canadian ones,
with upper cabins, which were well fitted
up. She plied between Toronto, Lewiston
and Ogdensburg.
There was as well a large fleet of barques
and schooners and several propellers. In
1850 ten steamers, twenty-two schooners
and three propellers belonged to Toronto.
The principal captains were Thomas and
James Dick, Hugh Richardson, Sr., Hugh
Richardson, Jr., James Sutherland,
Twohy, Hon. John Elmsley, Kerr,
William Gordon and Henry Richardson.
THE INAUGURATION OF THE ONTARIO, SIMCOE
AND HURON RAILWAY.
I remember witnessing the ceremony,
which took place on the bank on the south
side of Front Street, just west of Simcoo
Street, of the inauguration of the Ontario,
191
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Simcoe and Huron Railway (afterwards
known as the Northern Railway) . The first
sod was turned, in the presence of a very
large and interested crowd, by Lady Elgin,
who used a handsome silver spade and threw
a little earth into a wheelbarrow which
Mayor Bowes, who assisted in the ceremony,
wheeled away a short distance and emptied.
Mayor Bowes, who was one of Toronto s
best and most popular mayors, and was
elected six times to that position, had a
great idea of the dignity and importance of
his office and appeared in his cocked hat,
sword, knee breeches and silk stockings.
I remember seeing the locomotive for the
road being drawn down Yonge Street from
Mr. Good s shop on Queen Street east of
Yonge, where it was constructed, which
created a great deal of interest and excite
ment. This was the second engine built, the
first one (called the " Lady Elgin ") having
been found too light for anything but con
struction work. The first train pulled out
on May 16th, 1853, in the presence of a large
crowd of spectators, from the little wooden
station on the bank opposite the present
Queen s Hotel. (The second station was on
Front Street at the foot of Brock Street,
now Spadina Avenue, and the third on the
esplanade below the Market. ) It was under
192
JOHX HAKVIE.
The First Railway Conductor in Canada, in his
uniform as conductor of the Royal Train on
the occasion of the Visit of His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales to
Collingwood, Sept. 16th, 1860.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the charge of Mr. John Harvie, conductor,
who afterwards became one of the aldermen
of our city and later on secretary of the
Upper Canada Bible Society. Its first des
tination was to MachePs Corners (now
Aurora ) , which was as far as the road then
extended. Mr. Harvie tells me that he had
been conductor for two years on the Michi
gan Central Railway in the United States,
and that another conductor from the States
was expected to take charge of this train,
but as he had not arrived, Mr. Brunell, the
Superintendent, said to him, " Harvie, you
must take charge of the train and sell the
tickets on the platform, and the baggage-
master will collect them on the train,"
which was done. Mr. Harvie thus became
the first conductor of the first steam railway
in Canada ! ( Prior to this there was a tram
way line with horse cars between Montreal
and Lachine.)
The road was subsequently extended to
Bradford and then to Belle Ewart in the
summer of 1854. The first train ran into
Barrie on June 23rd, 1865; to Collingwood
on January 1st, 1855 ; to Orillia on Novem
ber 18th, 1871, and to Meaford on November
2nd, 1873. I remember taking a trip to
Belle Ewart on January 1st, 1855. The
Superintendent was Mr. A. Brunei!, civil
13 193
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
engineer, and the first President the Honor
able J. C. Morrison. Mr. Harvie tells me
"the Great Western was opened between
Windsor and the Suspension Bridge in 1853
and came into Toronto in 1855, and the
Grand Trunk as far as the Don in 1856 and
into the city in 1857." ( The Great Western
station was a wooden building on the
esplanade on the east side of Yonge Street,
now used as a freight shed. )
Mr. Harvie, I ain pleased to say, is still
living and in fair health. His excellent wife
was well known for many years on account
of the interest she took in the welfare of the
young women of Toronto, and was largely
instrumental in the formation of the Young
Women s Christian Guild.
The building of this road at so early a
date was owing to the indomitable pluck,
enterprise and optimism of Mr. Frederick
Chase Capreol, the accomplishment of
which, with its innumerable obstacles and
difficulties, would have daunted anv ordin-
v
ary man, and for which Mr. Capreol
received but scant recognition from the
directors of the company. Mr. Capreol s
first scheme was to raise the money by lot
tery. This failed partly because of the
objection to the scheme on the ground of its
immorality. Afterwards he formed a com-
104
OF TORONTO OF OLD
pany, to secure which he went to England
and obtained the Royal Charter. The bene
fit that Toronto has derived from the con
struction of this road is almost incalculable.
Mr. Capreol, with whom I was well
acquainted he being an old friend of my
father s was a man of great public spirit,
wide vision and restless energy, and
although some of his numerous projects
might seem visionary, others were well
worthy of consideration. I remember he
had a scheme for an incubator for which he
was ridiculed at the time, but we all know
that the hatching of eggs by means of incu
bators has for some time been carried out
successfully and that they are now in gen
eral use. Another of his projects was the
building of a ship canal to connect Lake
Huron with Lake Ontario.
There is one incident which took place that
was a good illustration of his perseverance,
energy, resourcefulness and pluck, in the
part he took in securing the arrest, in Lewis-
ton, of James McDermott and Grace Marks
for the murder of Mr. Thomas Ki nnear and
his house-keeper, Ann Montgomery, near
Richmond Hill, which took place on July 31,
1843, and created much excitement at the
time. This was fully reported in the British
Colonist newspaper, and a detailed account
195
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
is given in Mr. Robertson s " Landmarks of
Toronto," furnished by Mr. Herbert G.
Paull, from which the following account is
taken :
" On hearing of the murder of his friend
from his children on the Sunday evening
after their return from church, Mr. Capreol
determined on making an effort to secure
the arrest of the murderers, whom he sus
pected had taken passage to the United
States. He immediately rushed out of the
house to obtain aid from the police. He first
went to the police station, but failed to get
any satisfaction from the officer in charge
or to induce those at the office to make any
effort to arrest the murderers. He then
decided to do so himself. Meeting a friend,
he explained the case and asked him to join
with him, which he positively declined to do.
He then went to the house of the mayor, the
Honorable Henry Sherwood, and after con
siderable effort succeeded in awakening
him, and after hearing Mr. Capreol s report
he also declined to take any action. He then
proceeded to the Church Street wharf to
induce the captain of the Transit to get up
steam and take him over to Lewiston, which
he declined to do unless he was paid one
hundred dollars. Mr. Capreol told him he
196
OF TORONTO OF OLD
would give him his cheque, which was
refused, and handing Captain Richardson
all the money he had with him ($13.00),
told him to get up steam and promised to
return with the rest of the money. After
meeting a wealthy friend and stating his
case to him, he again met with refusal.
Almost baffled, he then determined to apply
to a Mr. Ogilvie (predecessor of Michie &
Co., Limited), who lived over the store on
King Street West, but he could not succeed
in awakening Mr. Ogilvie, who slept in the
back part of the house, by knocking at the
door on King Street, and so he went to the
rear of the house on Melinda Street, and
after tremendous efforts he succeeded in
scaling a high brick wall and found himself
in the yard, but could not even then succeed
in awakening Mr. Ogilvie, whose bedroom
was on the second storey and who was a
very sound sleeper. Noticing that there
was a rainpipe from the roof running within
a few feet of Mr. Ogilvie s window, at great
personal risk and with much difficulty he
succeeded in climbing up the pipe till he
could get hold of the Venetian blinds, which
were held back against the wall by strong
staples. He succeeded in obtaining a foot
hold on the sill, and with the blade of his
197
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
knife raised the sash of the window so that
he could get his fingers under it, and the
next instant pushed up the sash and stepped
into the room.
Mr. Ogilvie, on being awakened, sup
posing the intruder to be a burglar, jumped
up and clutched him by. the throat, and was
about to hurl him from the window when he
recognized the face of his friend. Mr.
Ogilvie stood in astonishment, looking at
this strange visitor, who stood before him
bare-headed, with bloody hands and torn gar
ments. On Mr. Capreol explaining the situa
tion, Mr. Ogilvie readily handed him twenty-
one sovereigns. Borrowing a pair of trousers
and a hat, Mr. Capreol hastened to make his
return to the boat, which he found waiting
and ready for operation."
Mr. Capreol, accompanied by Mr. Kings-
mill, the high bailiff, crossed to Lewiston
and succeeded in arresting both McDermott
and the woman in the hotel. They were
tried and found guilty. McDermott was
executed on November 21st, 1843, at the old
Berkeley Street jail. Grace Marks was sent
to jail for life and was pardoned after she
had been over forty years in the penitentiary
and when she was quite an old woman,
after which she went to the United States.
198
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Executions then and for some time after
were public and witnessed by great crowds
of people drawn by curiosity, numbers of
whom came in from the country and sur
rounding towns.
Mr. Kinnear was a friend of my father s,
and I have a clear recollection of the mur
der, also of Mr. Capreol s remarkable efforts
to secure the arrest of the murderers.
191)
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE GAS COMPANY. .
ILLUMINATING gas was discovered by
William Murdock, who in 1792 distilled
coal in an iron retort and conducted the
gas seventy feet through tinned-iron and
copper tubing to light his house at Redruth,
Cornwall. In 1797 he lighted his house at
Old Cumnock, and in March, 1798, he
lighted Boulton and Watts premises at
Soho, near Birmingham. The city of Lon
don was first lighted with gas in 1807, Paris
in 1819, and Brussels in the same year. The
first gas company in the United States was
organized in Baltimore in 1816, and a char
ter was obtained in 1823 by the Boston Gas
Company, but the works were not con
structed until 1828, and gas was supplied on
January 1st, 1829, when the first public
lamps were lighted. The inauguration of
the illumination was the occasion of a
remarkable demonstration, in which the
mayor and aldermen shared, to congratulate
the gas company and to promise them every
possible assistance. In 1823 a charter was
200
OF TORONTO OF OLD
granted to the New York Gas Light Com
pany, but gas was not manufactured until a
short time after its introduction in Boston.
Gas was first supplied in Halifax in 1843,
Quebec in 1849, Kingston in 1850, and
Hamilton in 1851.
The first place in Canada in which gas
was introduced was the city of Montreal,
and it was supplied from works owned and
operated by the late Mr. Albert Furniss a
short time prior to 1842. Gas was first sup
plied in Toronto on December 19th, 1841,
from works situated at the foot of Princes
Street, by the same energetic and enterpris
ing citizen, under the name of the " City of
Toronto Gas, Light and Water Company."
The writer well remembers, when a small
boy, jumping over the trenches where the
pipes were being laid in that year. Much
dissatisfaction having been expressed on
account of the high price ($5.00 per thou
sand) and the poor quality of the gas, on
September 17th, 1847, " a meeting of the gas
light consumers and other inhabitants of
the city was called to consider the propriety
of establishing a new gas light company,"
and subsequently it was resolved to form a
company to be called " The Consumers Gas
Company."
201
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
The following extract from the report of
the committee to obtain subscribers will
give some idea of the general feeling of dis
satisfaction which existed. In referring to
the necessity of the formation of the new
company, the report says : " It is generally
admitted to be absolutely necessary for the
accommodation of the citizens, so as to
insure them a constant supply of wholesome
gas at a reasonable price, and thus relieve
them from being dependent, as at present,
on a very uncertain supply of a very impure
article at a most extortionate price." In
one of the reports of the committee they
express their confidence that " within a few
short months it (the city) will enjoy at 10s.
currency ($2.00) per thousand feet, instead
of 25s. ($5.00) now charged, a gas light as
pure and brilliant as is to be met with in
the United Kingdom." Unfortunately this
anticipation was not realized until 1877, the
price up to the fourth year of the company s
operations being $4.00 and for several years
after $3.33 1-3 per thousand, in addition to
meter rental.
On October 29th, 1847, a general meeting
of the subscribers was held and a board of
twelve directors appointed, whose names are
given below, Mr. Charles Berczy, then Post
master, being elected President; Richard
202
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Kneeshaw, Vice-President, and John Wat
son, Secretary. Directors: Charles Berczy,
Postmaster; Hugh Scobie, publisher and
editor of the British Colonist; Hugh Miller,
druggist; James Beaty, leather merchant;
John T. Smith, hotelkeeper; E. F. Whitte-
more, merchant; George C. Horwood, hotel-
keeper; Richard Kneeshaw, druggist; Peter
Paterson, dry-goods merchant; Richard
Yates, grocer and tea merchant; R. H.
Brett, hardware merchant, and David
Paterson, hardware merchant.
On March 22nd the Company obtained an
Act of incorporation with an authorized
capital of 50,000 currency ($200,000), the
dividends being limited to 10 per cent, per
annum. Subsequently, negotiations were
entered into with Mr. Furniss for the pur
chase of the works of the City of Toronto
Gas, Light and Water Company, which pur
chase was consummated in the month of
June, 1848, the amount of the purchase
money being 22,000, or f 88,000.
Hitherto gas had been supplied both by
meter and by flat rate contract, which
arrangement was continued for some time.
It is somewhat amusing to read the stipula
tions laid down when gas was supplied by
contract. " Lighting must not commence
on any day until the sun has set, and all
203
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
lights must be extinguished each night
within ten minutes after the hour con
tracted for. If otherwise, they will be held
as used for an additional hour each night,
and for the quarter charged accordingly.
In like manner, if the flame is allowed to
burn higher than stipulated a correspond
ing price will be charged, and if on any occa
sion more burners or jets are used than con
tracted for, the additional number will not
only be charged but the offender will besides
subject himself to a penalty provided for by
the statute." Somewhat similar conditions
prevailed in Montreal, where in addition a
discount was allowed from the prices
charged to shareholders of the Company,
ranging from 6 per cent, on owners of one
to five shares and to 25 per cent, on holders
of one hundred shares. The price of gas per
thousand was 12s. 6d. ($2.50) with no meter
charges to parties consuming 6 ($24) and
over per annum.
The works purchased from Mr. Furniss
were limited in extent and of a very crude
nature. In 1855 the Company erected com
plete new works on another property,
regarding which the Directors report says :
" These works are considered by all who have
examined them to be equal, if not superior,
to any on the continent, and are capable of
204
OF TORONTO OF OLD
still further extension when required, the
plan of the works having been laid out with
a view of supplying a population of over one
hundred thousand."
In 1887 and 1888 (the year of the visit of
the American Gas Light Association) the
Company erected another complete set of
works having, with the works already con
structed, a total producing and holder
capacity of ten million cubic feet per diem.
When I entered the employment of the
Gas Company in 1854 the office staff con
sisted of the manager and two clerks. There
were four gasfitters, about a dozen main and
service pipe layers and about twenty men
at the works. In December, 1913, it con
sisted of the following :
Office staff 93
Meter readers and bill deliverers. ... 32
Collectors 17
Miscellaneous 6
Meter repairers, pipe layers, etc 339
Commercial Department employees. 240
Employees at works 690
Total 1,417
In 1853 Mr. Charles Berczy was Presi
dent; Mr. E. F. Whittemore, Vice-Presi
dent, and Mr. Henry Thompson, Manager,
appointed in June, 1849. The following
were the Directors: Messrs. John Arnold,
205
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
gentleman; Charles Berczy, Postmaster;
Matthew Betley, dry goods; Charles Jones,
retired officer; Hugh Miller, druggist; Wil
liam McMaster, merchant; Arnold (Abra
ham?) Nordheimer, piano manufacturer;
David Paterson, hardware merchant; Peter
Paterson, dry goods; John Thomas Smith,
hotelkeeper; Ezekiel F. Whittemore, mer
chant; Richard Yates, grocer.
There were 924 meters in use, and the
output of gas for the year 1854 (in which
year I entered the service of the Company)
was 13,954,000 cubic feet ; for the year 1909
(in which I left its service) there were
55,000 meters, 2,226,163,000 cubic feet out
put, and for the year 1913, 91,284 meters
and 3,492,087,000 cubic feet output, and this
notwithstanding electric lighting competi
tion. The price of gas in 1854 was $2.50
per thousand, which was raised to |3.00 in
1855. The price in 1906 was 75c., and in
1911 it was reduced to 70c.
Of the above Directors prior to 1867 I
have already referred at length to Mr.
Charles Berczy. Mr. E. F. Whittemore, who
was one of Toronto s most prominent citi
zens, had many interests and was associated
with a large number of enterprises ; he was a
man of great energy, business capacity and
strict integrity, and was a member of the firm
206
OF TORONTO OF OLD
of E. F. Whitternore and Company ( Thomas
Rigney, E. F. Whittemore and E. H. Ruth
erford), successors to Thomas Rigney and
Company. The firm was dissolved, Mr. Rig
ney retiring, and became the firm of Whitte
more, Rutherford and Company. In 1855
the partnership was dissolved and Mr.
Whittemore started a general banking and
brokerage business which, owing to the
collapse of the boom of 1857, was not a fin
ancial success. The business of these firms
was conducted in a four-storey building at
the north-west corner of King and Toronto
Streets, owned and erected by Mr. Whitte
more, and which later on was torn down and
the building occupied until recently by the
Quebec Bank was erected in its place. Mr.
Whittemore died at the early age of forty-
one years, on February 19th, 1859. He was
a man universally esteemed and his funeral
was one of the largest that had ever taken
place in the city and was attended by nearly
all of Toronto s prominent citizens.
Mr. Richard Yates was a grocer and tea
merchant, His store was called the East
India House (on King Street three doors
east of Leader Lane) , as he dealt principally
in teas. He had as an advertisement a
Chinese mandarin in the window bowing to
the people as they passed by. He was a very
207
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
pleasant old gentleman and a prominent
Methodist. He was an uncle to Mr. James E.
Ellis, the jeweller, granduncle to R. Y. Ellis
and a greatgranduncle of Messrs. Philip and
Matthew Ellis of the firm of Messrs. P. W.
Ellis and Co. He died in 1867 at the age
of sixty-nine years. I shall refer to him
hereafter in another connection.
As it is not my intention to continue my
recollections after the middle of the sixties,
and as the Presidents of the Company after
that date were well-known citizens, I do not
think it necessary to say anything regarding
them.
The following is a list of the Presidents
until the present time :
Names. Date of Appointment.
Charles Berczy November 3, 1847.
E. F. Whittemore October 27, 1856.
Richard Yates March 18, 1859.
E. H. Rutherford March 16, 1867.
James Austin October 26, 1874.
Larratt W. Smith March 3, 1897.
George R. R. Cockburn September 25, 1905.
John L. Blaikie October 29, 1906.
A. W. Austin March 4, 1912.
I served under all of these Presidents
excepting Mr. Albert Austin, who is the only
one living.
308
I
E. F. W1IITTEMORE
Second President, Consumers Gas
Company.
RICHARD YATKS
Third President, Consumers Gas
Company.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXX.
LITERATURE, MUSIC AND ART.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
THE newspapers in Toronto in 1850 were
The Patriot, a semi-weekly paper, published
by Mr. Thomas Dalton; The British Colon
ist, semi-weekly, of which the editor was Mr.
Hugh Scobie; The Globe, semi-weekly, the
first number of which was issued on June
18th, 1844, with the Honorable George
Brown as editor and proprietor; The Ban
ner, which had been published some time
previously under the editorship of Mr. Peter
Brown, father of the Honorable George
Brown, was discontinued (The Globe was
originally the Globe and Banner) ; The
North American, published weekly by Mr.
(afterwards Honorable) William McDou-
gall; The Examiner, weekly, Mr. Joseph
Lesslie being the editor and publisher; The
Christian Guardian, Rev. George R. Sander
son, editor, the organ of the Methodist
Church, and the oldest newspaper in
Toronto, its publication having commenced
l* 209
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
in 1829 ; The Mirror, the organ of the Roman
Catholic Church, published by Mr. Charles
Dunlevey; The Canadian Agriculturalist,
published by Mr. (Hon.) William McDou-
gall. The publication of "The Canadian
Almanac " commenced a little prior to 1850
by Mr. Hugh Scobie; it has subsequently
been published by Scobie and Balfour,
Thomas McLear, W. C. Chewett and Com
pany, and by the Copp, Clark Company,
Limited, from 1870 down to the present
time.
About this time Punch in Canada was
commenced by Mr. T. B. de Walden. There
was a paper published in Streetsville called
The Streetsville Review, which had a very
large circulation in Toronto, the editor
being the Rev. R. J. McGeorge, a minister of
the Church of England. A considerable
portion of the paper was taken up with
municipal affairs and other matters of inter
est in Toronto, which were discussed in a
very witty and humorous style. The New
York Albion (a pro-British paper) had also
a very large circulation here, and the Kings
ton British Whig and the New York Spirit
of the Times were also popular papers. The
English papers most in favor were The
London Times, The Illustrated London
News, and Punch.
210
OF TORONTO OF OLD
LITERATURE.
As for literature, amongst the Canadian
writers that I can remember was Mrs.
Susanna Moodie, one of a very remarkable
family of six sisters, all of whom were liter
ary, the principal one being Mrs. Agnes
Strickland, a prolific writer, whose best
known work was the historical biography
of the Queens of England, which of course
brought her into much prominence, Mrs.
Moodie emigrated to Canada in 1852 and
lived on a backwoods farm about ten miles
north of Peterboro. The work by which
she is best known is "Flora Lindsay, or
Roughing It in the Bush," a graphic and
very interesting story, and really an account
of her experience in the backwoods of
Canada. A new illustrated edition of this
work has just been published. She also
wrote "Life in the Clearings versus The
Bush." She was the widow of Sheriff
Moodie of Belleville and mother of Mr. R. B.
Moodie, Agent of the Intercolonial Railway,
Toronto, with whom she lived on Wilton
Crescent, and where she died in 1885. I
have frequently seen the old lady sitting on
the porch on summer afternoons. Another
sister, Mrs. Catherine Parr Traill, wrote
" Lost in the Backwoods " and "Pictures of
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Life and Scenery in Canada," some of which
was fiction, although much of it real life.
She also wrote other works. She settled
at Rice Lake, about ten miles north of
Peterboro.
Dr. Egerton Ryerson wrote " The Loyal
ists of America and Their Times," and is
well known as a prolific w r riter on many
subjects. Major John Richardson, a Cana
dian, who was a brave soldier and fought
in the War of 1812, was the Canadian corre
spondent of the Times, and wrote " Ecarte "
and "Wacousta," the latter a thrilling
Indian story of considerable merit, of which
a new edition w^as issued about a year or
two ago. He also wrote a number of other
works. I remember the Major, who visited
at our home in Kingston in 1841. Almost
everyone knows of Judge Haliburton, the
author of "Sam Slick" and "The Clock
Maker." Another writer of considerable
merit was William Kirby, who came to Can
ada in 1832. His principal work, written in
1877, was the "Golden Dog" ("Le Chien
d Or "), a story of old Quebec, a most thrill
ing historical novel. He resided for a long
time at Niagara, where he died in 1906.
In 1836 there was a Literary Club in
Toronto of which Sir Francis Bond Head
was the patron. An Ethical and Literary
212
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Society was formed in the same year, the
objects being the reading of essays on ethi
cal and literary subjects and debating on
questions given out for discussion.
The most popular books of fiction in the
forties were the novels of Charles Dickens.
Bulwer-Lytton, Sir Walter Scott, Captain
Marryat and Fenimore Cooper, Miss Edge-
worth s tales, " Sandford and Merton " and
" The Arabian Nights."
Music.
There were vocal and instrumental music
masters in the Upper Canada College and a
Philharmonic Society was organized some
where about 1848 or 1849, of which Dr.
G. W. Strathy was the conductor and pian
ist. According to RowselPs Directory of
1850 the officers, etc., of this society were
the following:
Patrons His Excellency the Governor-General and
the Hon. Chief Justice Robinson.
President The Hon. Mr. Justice Draper.
Vice-Presidents George Dupont Wells and Dr.
Holmes.
Committee Instrumental, A. S. Nordheimer, J. Ellis,
J. Cochrane and H. Eccles; Vocal, W. L. Perrin,
J. W. Brent, L. W. Smith and George Draper.
Henry Rowsell, Treasurer; Purdy, Secretary.
In 1851 (largely through the influence
of the Rev. Dr. McCaul, President of the
213
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
University, Dr. J. P. Clarke and Mr. John
Ellis) another society was organized called
" The Toronto Vocal and Musical Society,"
of which I was a member, the conductor and
pianist being Dr. Clarke and the orchestra
leader Mr. Ellis, who was a very fine player
on the violoncello. Dr. Clarke was a musi
cian of considerable eminence and was
organist of St. James Cathedral in 1849
and subsequently of the Roman Catholic
Cathedral. In 1871 he was conductor of the
newly organized Philharmonic Society and
was succeeded by Dr. F. H. Torrington. The
first officers of this society were the Rev. Dr.
McCaul, President; Mr. Robert Marshall,
Vice-President ; Mr. John Hague, Secretary,
and W. H. Pearson, Treasurer.
No one in those early days, or later, did
more to promote the interests of music in
Toronto than the Rev. Dr. McCaul, who
himself had considerable musical talent and
was no mean performer upon the piano. He
took part in organizing the various musical
societies, not only in the forties and fifties,
but much more recently. He was largely
instrumental in arranging a concert which
was held in the large drill shed in the
grounds of the Parliament Buildings about
1866, when the massed bands of the regi
ments in the city took part, in addition to
214
OF TORONTO OF OLD
some prominent vocalists. He also took
considerable part in organizing the Philhar
monic Society (of which he was the first
President) in 1871. His geniality and tact,
and his addresses punctured with many witty
remarks, made him exceedingly popular
with the members of the various societies.
One of the leading vocalists in the forties
and fifties was Mr. J. Doodsly Humphrey,
who had a very fine tenor voice and was
a teacher of vocal music in the Upper
Canada College. Mr. Frederick Griebel was
also prominent amongst the musicians as a
violinist. Prominent amongst the lady
vocalists was Miss Hagerman (afterwards
Mrs. John Beverley Robinson), who was a
highly cultivated singer and had a remark
ably fine soprano voice, and w r ho readily
gave her services in aid of many benevolent
and philanthropic objects. Her attractive
presence and beautiful voice never failed to
secure the admiration and applause of her
audiences. When Jenny Lind visited the
Clifton House, Niagara Falls, Mrs. Robin
son was a guest at the same time, and while
there sang some pieces which w r ere over
heard by Jenny Lind, who sent for her and
complimented her very highly.
Toronto was favored w r ith a visit from
Jenny Lind in 1851, the concert being held
215
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
in St. Lawrence Hall. Of course her fame
had long preceded her, both as regards her
wonderful singing and benevolence, which
Barnum, who organized her tours, took good
care to fully advertise. Her coming was
looked forward to with great expectation.
At the sale of the tickets, which took place
at Nordheimer s, the store had to be barri
caded to keep back the crowd, amongst
whom there was much shuffling and crush
ing in order to obtain admission. Several
speculators bought up a number of the
tickets and held them at fabulous prices,
expecting to realize a good profit on them,
but not being able to dispose of them as they
expected, a number were left on their hands.
Just before the concert they were offered for
sale at reduced prices, when I procured one
for three dollars (the original price was two
dollars and fifty cents).
The only piece the name of which I
remember was " Coming Through the Rye,"
which Jenny Lind sang with a slightly for
eign accent. In addition she, of course, sang
a number of operatic and other selections,
and her marvellous singing greatly impressed
and thrilled me, as it did the rest of the
audience.
In appearance she was somewhat above
medium height, with blonde hair and rather
216
OF TORONTO OF OLD
plain features, which were relieved by a
very sweet expression. But what impressed
me as much as anything else was her
unassuming manner. I understood that at
this time she was twenty-eight years of age.
I have always been glad that I had the
privilege of hearing her sing.
Toronto was even then favored with visits
by musical organizations from other places.
I remember amongst others, late in the
forties, one by the "Germania Society," a
company of Germans, who gave a very fine
concert.
ART.
Up to 1850 but little progress had been
made in art in Toronto, and comparatively
few people had money to spend on pictures.
There were, however, two portrait painters
who did very good work Messrs. Berthon
and Ilopner Meyer. There was also another
portrait painter named Tinsley, who painted
a portrait of my mother at Kingston in
1841. Paul Kane, with whom I was well
acquainted, was an artist of considerable
ability who spent most of his life in Toronto.
In his boyhood days he consorted with the
Mississauga Indians, whose wigwams were
on a cleared piece of land near the mouth
of the Don. In the thirties he followed the
317
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
business of coach, sign and house painter at
158 King Street. In 1841, in his thirtieth
year, he went to Europe to study, where he
remained for four years making copies of
the works of the great masters. On return
ing to Canada he decided to paint a series
of paintings illustrative of the North Ameri
can Indians, and went to the Hudson Bay
Territory for four years, where he executed
a number of paintings of Indian life, both
landscape and portrait, by which he acquired
a distinguished reputation throughout the
North American continent. On his return
he gave an exhibition of his work in one of
our public halls, which I saw. He also
issued a volume of illustrated travels
entitled " Wanderings of an Artist Among
the Indians of North America," by which
he obtained a recognized position in the lit
erature of British art. His paintings were
purchased by the Honorable G. W. Allan,
and afterwards passed into the hands of Sir
Edmund Osier, by whom they were pre
sented to the Royal Ontario Museum of
Archaeology in connection with the Toronto
University, where they now are.
I frequently had conversations with Mr.
Kane regarding the North- West, and learned
from him a great deal about its climate, fer
tility and possibilities, of which he spoke in
218
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
glowing terms, and of the habits and cus
toms of the aborigines. Mr. Kane died in
1871. He was the son of a soldier, who kept
a spirit store on the west side of Yonge
Street between King and Adelaide Streets,
his sign being " Kane, Spirit Store."
Then there was a very good daguerreo-
typer and photographer, Eli J. Palmer. He
took my daguerreotype as far back as in
1847, and two others in 1853, which
are still in a good state of preservation.
Before daguerreotypes were taken, profiles
used to be cut out in silhouette by artists
skilled in such work, who went about the
country cutting out pictures. Mr. Palmer
had a large establishment and did very
excellent work. He and the Notmans, of
Montreal, were amongst the earliest who
took photographs, which long since super
seded daguerreotypes.
219
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
THE UNIVERSITY.
OF all the educational institutions in
Toronto the University is, of course, the
most important. To give anything like a
history of the University of Toronto would
require a volume, and it would be out of my
province to here present more than the
merest sketch. I am simply referring to it
as one of the institutions of " Toronto of
old " which I consider I should not pass by
in silence, and what I shall say will be
merely a summary drawn largely from an
account by Dr. London, and which I trust
will be of some interest.
According to Dr. London, the recent
President of the University, 550,274 acres
of the "waste lands" of the Crown were
appropriated in 1799 by the British Govern
ment for the maintenance of four Grammar
Schools in different sections of the Province
and the University; at least one-half of the
whole grant was for purposes of the Univer
sity. Up to 1819 the University project
220
OF TORONTO OF OLD
made but little progress. In 1828 the
exchange of a portion of the original grant
of lands for an equal portion of the more
valuable " Crown Reserve " was made.
In 1827 a charter was granted for a Uni
versity under the title of " The University
of King s College." By certain provisions
of the charter the University was practically
made a University of the Church of England.
This caused a great agitation (referred to
in the article on the Victoria University),
and in 1837 a compromise was agreed upon
by w T hich no religious test was required of
the professors or members of the Council
other than a declaration of belief in the
Trinity and the divine inspiration of the
Scriptures, and no religious test was
required of students or graduates.
In consequence of the controversy referred
to and of the prevailing uncertainty regard
ing the future of higher education, in 1829
an endowment was made to the Upper Can
ada College of 62,996 acres and a building
site. In 1836 the Methodist Upper Canada
Academy was incorporated, and opened in
the same ye;ir. In 1841 authority was given
to confer degrees and its name was changed
to Victoria College. In 1839 the President
obtained a charier for the University of
Queen s College at Kingston. In 1837 the
221
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Regiopolis College had been incorporated as
a Roman Catholic seminary at Kingston
and obtained a university charter consider
ably later on. In 1842 the corner-stone of
King s College was laid with great cere
mony in the Queen s Park by Sir Charles
Bagot, being only a part of one of the build
ings for which plans had been made, and it
was only occupied for a comparatively short
time (see reference to this on page 60), and
on April 8th, 1843, under the presidency of
Dr. Strachan, inaugural services were held
and the work of teaching began in the old
Parliament Buildings on Front Street,
pending the completion of the wing of the
new building.
In 1849 a Bill providing for complete
secularization of the University, introduced
by the Honorable Robert Baldwin, was
passed and the name changed from King s
College to the University of Toronto. In
consequence of a provision in the Act of
1849 for the incorporation of the Colleges
named, on the condition of their abandon
ing degree-conferring powers, they remained
independent.
In 1853 a new Act was passed by which
the institution was to be reorganized after
the model of the University of London into
two practically independent parts. First,
222
OF TORONTO OF OLD
an examining and degree-conferring body
with the name of the University of Toronto
and controlled by the Senate, and second,
a teaching body with the name of the Uni
versity College and controlled by the Presi
dent and professors. " The various denom
inational Colleges were then affiliated.
Moreover, it was provided that all unex
pended income funds each year should con
stitute a fund which might be appropriated
by Parliament for academical education in
the University College, thus constituting for
the denominational Colleges a species of
reversional claim on the endowment."
Apart from some changes of a subordinate
nature the constitution of the Provincial
University remained practically unaltered
until 1887, when the Act was passed known
as the Federation Act, to unite the various
denominational institutes with the Univer
sity of Toronto. Various institutions, such
as the School of Practical Science, the Agri
cultural College, etc., have also entered into
affiliation with the University.
The present University building was
begun in 1856 and occupied in 1859, the
architects being Messrs. Cumberland and
Storm, of Toronto. Its total cost was
|355,907, and it is considered to be the fin
est single university building in America. On
223
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
February 14th, 1890, the whole of the Uni
versity, with the exception of the Physical
Science Department, was destroyed by fire,
together with the library of nearly thirty-
five thousand volumes, containing many rare
editions of general works and many docu
ments connected with Canadian history.
The cause of this fire was never fully
explained. The Biological building was
erected in 1890 at a cost of |129,745 and
the Chemical in 1895, costing f 82,000. After
the fire of 1890 a separate edifice was
erected in 1892 for the library at a cost of
$100,000. Through the liberality of Mrs.
Massey-Treble a magnificent School of
Household Science has been erected at a
cost of about $300,000.
In addition to these buildings are the
Convocation Hall, the Physics building, the
School of Practical Science, the Mining,
Medical and Engineering buildings, the
University Young Men s Christian Associa
tion, the Museum, and, in process of con
struction, a Gymnasium, Dining Hall,
Union Building and Theatre, the last four
being a gift from the Hart A. Massey estate,
all comprising a group of buildings on the
campus probably unexcelled on the contin
ent. Other buildings are the Men s and
Women s Residences, Pathological building,
224
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the Forestry and Botany building and the
University Schools and Faculty of Educa
tion Department. At the time of writing
(March, 1914) there are 3,894 students
enrolled in the various departments.
The first President was the Rev. Dr.
Strachan, President of King s College from
1827-48 ; the second, the Rev. John McCaul,
LL.D., 1849-80; the third, Sir Daniel Wil
son, LL.D., 1880-90, of the University Col
lege, and of both University College and
University of Toronto, 1890-92; Professor
James London, M.A., LL.D., held the joint
Presidency from 1892 to 1909. In June,
1909, Professor Robert A. Falconer, C.M.G.,
M.A., LL.D., was appointed President of
the University of Toronto, and Professor
Maurice Hutton Principal of University
College.
TRINITY COLLEGE.
The following account is taken from an
article on the College written by the late
Professor William Clarke :
On account of the abolition of religious
teaching in King s College, which had pre
viously an Anglican Professor of Divinity,
Bishop Strachan determined to found a
university with the provision for religious
education under the Church of England,
15 225
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
and he succeeded in obtaining a Royal Char
ter for Trinity College; f 100,000 was sub
scribed in Canada, and the Bishop, although
seventy-two years of age, went to England,
and through his advocacy obtained contri
butions of 9,000 from the Society for the
Promotion of Christian Knowledge and the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
and a grant of 400 and seven and one-half
acres of land for a site.
The building was designed by Mr. Kivas
Tully, architect, and on March 13th, 1851,
the tender of Messrs. Metcalfe, Wilson and
Forbes for 7,845* was accepted. The first
sod was turned by the Bishop on March 17th
and the corner-stone laid on April 30th with
great ceremony. The service was first held
in St. George s Church, and the Bishop,
clergy and congregation inarched in proces
sion along Queen Street to the site of the
College. A bottle, with coins and docu
ments to be placed under the corner-stone,
was handed to the Bishop by Doctor Burn-
side, and Chief Justice Robinson read the
inscription on the brass plate.
* This amount may appear to be ridiculously small,
and possibly the contract was for brick and masonry
only. It of course must be borne in mind that the
cost of building in 1851 was not half of what it is
to-day.
296
OF TORONTO OF OLD
The original trustees were Rev. EL J.
Grasett, George W. Allan and Lewis Mof-
fatt, and the treasurers the Honorable
George Crookshank, the Honorable William
Allan and the Honorable James Gordon.
The corner-stone was laid by the Bishop and
an address was delivered by Sir Allan
MacNab, congratulating the Bishop. The
building was ready for use by the beginning
of 1852. The College was inaugurated Janu
ary 15th, 1852. The first Provost was the
Rev. George Whittaker. On his resignation
in 1881 the Rev. C. W. Body, M.A., was
appointed Provost. Mr. Body resigned in
1894 and was succeeded by the Rev. E. A.
Welsh, M.A., on October 18th, 1895, who
resigned at the end of 1898. The present
Provost, the Rev. T. Street Macklem, was
appointed on May 1st, 1900.
VICTORIA COLLEGE.
From an article written by Chancellor
Burwash :
The Upper Canada Academy was opened
at Cobourg in 1836, with the Rev. Dr. Mat
thew Richey as Principal, who was suc
ceeded by the Rev. Jesse Hurlburt in 1839.
On August 27th, 1841, the School, by Act
of Provincial Parliament, was endowed with
227
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
university powers and became Victoria Col
lege. The Rev. Dr. Ryerson was appointed
first Principal on October 21st of the same
year. As Queen s College was opened on
March 7th, 1842, and King s (the then Pro
vincial College under the control of the
Church of England) on June 8th, 1843, Vic
toria was, therefore, the first university in
the Province. In 1845 the Rev. Alexander
McNabb, D.D., was appointed Principal and
resigned in 1849, and in 1850 the Rev. S. S.
Nelles, M.A., was appointed. He died in
1884 and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. N.
Burwash, who resigned in 1913, when he
was succeeded by Professor Bowles, M.A.
In 1890 Victoria College, with Knox,
Wycliffe and St. Michael s, was confeder
ated w r ith the Provincial Universitv. Vic-
v
toria College was removed to Toronto and
opened in October, 1892. In addition to
the main building are the following: The
Library and Burwash Hall, gifts from the
Hart A. Massey estate; Annesley Hall, the
women s residence, the gift of Mrs. Massey-
Treble.
KNOX COLLEGE.
Knox College originally occupied three
three-storey buildings on Front Street
called the Ontario Terrace, previously pri-
228
OF TORONTO OF OLD
vate residences, and which were all thrown
into one and subsequently formed part of
the present Queen s Hotel. The Rev. Michael
Willis, D.D., was Professor of Systematic
Theology, Biblical Criticism and Pastoral
Care; the Rev. Dr. Robert Burns, Lecturer
on Ecclesiastical History; the Rev. Henry
Esson, Professor of Mental and Moral Phil
osophy, and J. M. Hirschfelder, teacher of
Hebrew. The Toronto Academy, in connec
tion with Knox College, established in 1840,
occupied a one-storey building in the rear.
The Principal was the Rev. Alexander Gale,
A.M., and the second master Mr. Thomas
Henning (a brother-in-law of the Honorable
George Brown). A large number of prom
inent Torontonians received their early
education in this school.
The College was subsequently removed to
Elmsley Villa on Yonge Street north of
College Avenue, and was incorporated as a
University in 1858. The present College
was erected in 1874 or 1875, the Rev. Dr.
William Caven being appointed Principal
in 1873. He died on December 1st, 1904.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. William
McLaren, who resigned in 1909, and was
succeeded by the Rev. Alfred Gandier, in
December, 1909.
229
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
WYCLIFFE COLLEGE.
The Rev. J. P. Sheraton, D.D., was
appointed Principal in 1877 and was suc
ceeded by Rev. Canon O Meara, LL.D., the
present Principal, in 1906. The present
building was erected in 1891 and the College
was affi Hated with the University in 1889.
MCMASTER COLLEGE.
The Toronto Baptist College, which was
opened in 1881, and the Woodstock College
were united under the name of the McMas-
ter University on April 23rd, 1887. The
union came into effect on November 1st fol
lowing. The first Chancellor was Malcolm
Me Vicar, Ph.D., LL.D., 1887-90, the second,
Theodore H. Rand, M.A., D.C.L., Chancellor
and Principal ex officio, 1892-5, and the
third, Oates C. S. Wallace, M.A., D.D.,
LL.D., Chancellor and Principal, ex officio,
1895. Dr. Wallace was succeeded bv A. C.
.
McKay, LL.D., and he by A. L. McCrimmon,
M.A., LL.D., the present Chancellor and
Principal, ex officio.
NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Normal School was originally situ
ated on King Street west of Simcoe Street,
afterwards the location of the Government
230
OF TORONTO OF OLD
House, and the present Normal School was
erected in 1851 or 1852, originally a two-
storey building. The head master was
Thomas Jaffray Robertson and the mathe
matical master Henry Youle Hind. The
Model School in connection with the Nor
mal School was, I think, also situated in
the same locality; the senior teacher was
Mr. A. McCallum and the assistant teacher
Mr. John Sangster.
Mr. John Boyd s Commercial Academy on
Bay Street was perhaps the most important
private school in the city and the number of
scholars was somewhere about one hundred.
I attended this school in 1840-1, when Sir
John Boyd, the son of the principal, and
Thomas Thompson were my fellow school
mates. I considered Mr. Boyd a somewhat
austere man, but he was a very excellent
teacher. He appointed boys monitors over
different sections of the school, which was
certainly a unique feature in school govern
ment. On one occasion when John ( now Sir
John) Boyd was monitor he reported me
and I got a whipping. On reminding him
of this some time ago he said that he had
no doubt that I deserved it.
Some other schools were the Home District
(irammar School on the west side of Jarvis
231
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Street between Adelaide and Richmond
Streets, of which Mr. Crombie was the head
master; Harte s School on Church Street;
Dennis Heffernan s School on Richmond
Street; the Roman Catholic School on the
east side of Jarvis Street between Adelaide
and Richmond Streets ; the Central, or Free
School, on the north-west corner of Adelaide
and Jarvis Streets; Miss Hussey s Boys
School, on the west side of James Street, and
Mrs. Cockburn s Ladies School, on the north
west corner of Duke and George Streets.
There was another small school on the south
side of Queen Street, between Bay and York
Streets, kept by a lame man, a Mr. Hackett.
These institutions were about all of the
schools in the city.
232
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXXII.
LIQUOR DRINKING.
THE custom of drinking intoxicating
liquor was very general, and a very large
majority of the people used either spirits
(generally whiskey), beer or wines at the
dinner table. Even amongst the Methodists
(principally those from the Old Country),
who were supposed to be teetotalers, the use
of beer as a beverage was quite common. In
fact, Messrs. John Doel, Joseph Bloor and
George Rowell, all Methodists, were brewers.
Treating was very common. Instead of
tipping a cabman or the driver of a stage,
he was usually treated. It was not gen
erally considered disreputable for a gentle
man to get drunk after dinner. The custom
o
of men making New Year s Day calls was
very general. With refreshments wine was
usually served and sometimes stronger bev
erages, and it was not an uncommon sight
to see men reeling through the streets and
sometimes uproariously drunk at the close
of the day. The physiological effects of
233
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
alcohol were not then understood, and it was
generally thought healthful to take a little
wine, beer or spirits, and the use of alcoholic
beverages was much more freely recom
mended by the physicians of the time than
it is to-day. The number of taverns for the
population was exceedingly large. Accord
ing to Walton s Directory of 1837, when the
population of the city was only 9,652 there
were, in 1836, 76 taverns, or one to every
127 inhabitants, and besides these liquor
was sold in most of the groceries. There
were about 300 licenses during the sixties,
when the population of the city was from
45,000 to 55,000, or about one to every 166
persons. In 1874, when the population was
68,000, the licenses issued were 309 tavern,
184 shop, 24 wholesale and 16 vessel, or one
tavern license to every 220 persons, while in
1911, with a population of about 450,000,
there were only 110 tavern, 50 shop and 11
wholesale, and no vessel licenses, or only
one tavern license to every 4,091 persons, a
much more satisfactory condition, which
doubtless imposes a considerable check on
intemperance. Notwithstanding this, as we
all know, there is still a lamentable amount
of drunkenness in the city, and it is to be
hoped that these reductions will go on
until the bar is abolished. What a bonanza
234
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
those now holding licenses must have when
$25,000 is readily paid for the transfer of
the license of a small hotel !*
The temperance cause received a great
impetus when the celebrated temperance
advocate John B. Gough lectured here in
1849. The meetings held in several of the
churches were crowded and a very deep
interest in the movement created. John B.
Gough was born in England in 1817, and
when but twelve years old was sent to
America by his parents. He first worked on
a farm in Oneida County, N.Y., and subse
quently located in New York City. When a
very young man he contracted habits of
dissipation, and his drunkenness brought on
delirium tremens and reduced him to pov
erty. In 1842 he was induced to attend a
temperance meeting and take the pledge,
and soon afterwards resolved to devote the
remainder of his life to the cause of tem
perance, and lectured with great earnest
ness and effect in various parts of America
(including Toronto), and in 1853 was
engaged by the London Temperance League
* The following is a paragraph from the Globe of
February 7th, 1914: "A shop license was transferred
recently in this city at the price of $38,000 and a
hotel license at the price of $52,000. The bar should
be abolished, and the shop with it."
235
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
to lecture for two years in the United King
dom, and was again in England from 1 857 to
1860 and in 1878.
Referring to him an American writer
says : " At this date the most eloquent and
effective advocate of the temperance cause
now living John Bartholomew Gough-
appeared on the stage. His herculean labors
in two hemispheres would have overwhelmed
any ordinary man. With him ( words are
not empty phrases, rhetorical flourishes or
studied classicalities, but genuine overflow
ings of heart power. Dramatic genius,
sparkling wit and pathetic imagery abound
in all his addresses. A divine hand seems
to have developed and guided him in his
remarkable career of usefulness. . . .
With the lapse of years the popular love
for Mr. Gough has turned to popular ven
eration. He is everywhere a favorite in the
lecture field. . . . His influence has
steadily augmented. Though uneducated,
college students, professors, divines, states
men, literati and nobility have enjoyed and
profited by his addresses."
Under his appeals I, with many others,
became a total abstainer, and have remained
such. As a result of his lectures a wave of
temperance reform swept through the city
236
OF TORONTO OF OLD
and country at that time, and very many
hundreds took the pledge. Two Sons of
Temperance lodges (the Toronto and Cold-
stream divisions) were formed. The mem
bers of the first were largely young men
from amongst the well-to-do families of the
city, and this lodge I joined and became its
financial scribe. The lodge after a few
years existence was closed, but the Cold-
stream division, organized by the temper
ance people in the western part of the city,
is still in a flourishing condition.
The impetus given to the temperance
movement by this marvellous man can
hardly be overestimated and the results of
</
his work here have been continued to the
present time. His personal magnetism,
powerful appeals, dramatic power, pathos,
imagination, flights of oratory, apt illustra
tions and intense zeal have perhaps never
been surpassed by any other temperance
advocate, not even by Father Matthew him
self. Mr. Gough lectured again in Toronto
in the sixties in Cooke s Church. He died
on February 18th, 1886, at the age of sixty-
nine years.
According to the Directory of 1837 there
was a Temperance Society, called " The City
of Toronto Temperance Society," estab-
237
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
lished in 1829 and reorganized in 1835, with
Marshall Spring Bidwell, President ; James
Lesslie, Treasurer ; Rev. John Beatty, Corre
sponding Secretary; J. H. Lawrence, Secre
tary ; the number of members being six hun
dred and thirty-two. Under the direction
of this Society was published monthly a
paper entitled The Temperance Record and
issued from the bookstore of Messrs. Lesslie
on the following terms: City subscribers,
2s. 6d. per annum and country subscribers
(including postage) 3s. per annum, a reduc
tion being made upon taking a quantity.
The terms of the pledge are not given, but
most if not all of these early society pledges
only prohibited the use of ardent spirits.
A Temperance Society called the Upper
Canada Temperance Society " was reorgan
ized " in York on June 10th, 1833, of which
the Honorable and Right Reverend Lord
Bishop of Quebec was the patron and a
number of townsmen managers. The pledge
taken by the members was as follows :
" I pledge myself to abstain from using
ardent spirits, and from giving them to
others, except they be required for some
bodily injury or severe indisposition, and I
do also pledge myself to avoid excess in the
use of every other liquor."
238
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
This Society was formed " as a parent one
for the Province, taking into the relation of
auxiliary any temperance society that shall
declare its connection with it."
This Society appears to have been a dif
ferent one from "The City of Toronto
Temperance Society " referred to above.
239
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A GENERAL VIEW OF THE
CHURCHES IN THE
FIFTIES.
THERE were twenty-four churches in
Toronto and Yorkville in 1850 (omitting
the St. James Cathedral which was
destroyed by fire in 1849) a notable
increase since 1840, when there were but
nine. They were the following:
Church of England.
St. Paul s Church, Yorkville Rev. J. G. D. McKenzie,
B.A., minister.
Trinity, King Street East Rev. R. Mitchele, B.A.,
minister.
St. George s, John Street Rev. Stephen Lett, LL.D.,
minister.
Holy Trinity, Trinity Square Rev. Henry Scadding,
M.A., minister; Rev. W. Stennett, M.A., assist
ant minister.
St. James Cathedral, King Street (in course of con
struction) Rev. H. J. Grasett, M.A., rector;
Rev. Edmund Baldwin, M.A., assistant rector.
240
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Church of Scotland.
St. Andrew s, corner Church and Adelaide Streets-
Rev. John Barclay, A.M., minister.
Presbyterian Church of Canada.
Knox s Church, Queen Street Rev. Robert Burns,
D.D., minister.
* United Presbyterian Church.
United Presbyterian Church, corner Richmond and
Bay Streets Rev. John Jennings, minister.
Wesleyan Methodist Church.
Adelaide Street, corner Toronto Street Rev. J. Ryer-
son and Rev. A. S. Byrne, ministers.
Richmond Street, between Yonge and Bay Streets-
Rev. Wm. Squire, minister.
Queen Street, near Spadina Avenue Rev. John
Douse, minister.
Yorkville Supplied by Adelaide Street minister and
local preachers.
Roman Catholic Church.
St. Michael s Cathedral, Bond Street Bishop F. M.
de Charbonnell, D.D., minister.
St. Paul s, Power Street Rev. John Carroll, vicar-
general, and a number of assistant priests.
The Congregational Church.
Congregational Church, corner Adelaide and Bay
Streets Rev. John Roaf, minister.
1 241
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
The Methodist New Connexion Church.
Temperance Street Rev. Wm. McClure, minister.
Yorkville Rev. D. D. Rolston, minister.
The Primitive Methodist Church.
Primitive Methodist Church, Bay Street Rev. Wil
liam Lyle and Rev. P. Parsons, ministers.
The Baptist Church. *
Bond Street Baptist, between Queen and Shuter
Streets Rev. James Pyper, minister.
The Catholic Apostolic Church.
Catholic Apostolic Church, Bay Street near King
Street West Rev. George Ryerson, minister.
The Disciples of Christ.
Disciples of Christ, corner Shuter and Victoria Streets
Mr. James Beaty (afterwards proprietor of
the Leader newspaper) usually officiated.
The Unitarian Church.
Unitarian Church (formerly the Methodist Church),
George Street.
The African Episcopal Methodist Church.
African Episcopal, Elizabeth Street.
The African Baptist Church.
African Baptist Church, corner of Queen and Victoria
Streets.
24:2
OF TORONTO OF OLD
At this time there was no disposition on
the part of the various Churches to frater
nize, and I do not remember that there
was any exchange of pulpits between the
ministers of the different denominations,
although all of them took part at the annual
meetings of the Bible Society, which then
were crowded and considered of great
importance. There were three branches of
the Presbyterian Church the Church of
Scotland, the Free Church and the United
Presbyterian Church and four of the Meth
odist Church the Wesleyan, New Con
nexion, Episcopal and Bible Christian-
and the union of these different branches
was not even mooted.
Much stress was laid upon the doctrinal
differences between the Presbyterian and
Methodist Churches, and any proposition of
union between these Churches would have
made the followers of John Calvin lift up
their hands in holy horror. But time has
brought about great changes, and happily
the views of these bodies have become
greatly modified and there is now every
prospect of a union being consummated
between the Presbyterian, Methodist and
Congregational Churches.
In Toronto and in all the cities of Ontario
the adherents of the Church of England
243
EECOLLECTIONS AND EECOEDS
were numerically much greater than those
of any other denomination, and in Toronto
in 1851 constituted considerably more than
one-third of the total population, but the
percentage of increase has not kept pace
with that of the Methodists, Presbyterians
and Baptists, as the accompanying table
will show. Socially its members were in
advance of other denominations, a large pro
portion of the professional men and those
occupying high positions in the Government
being members or adherents of the Church.
The Church at this time was not aggressive
or evangelistic. Special services, or " mis
sions," as they are now called by the Church,
were unknown. The first evangelistic ser
vices that I can remember were in connec
tion with St. James Cathedral and were
held in 1877 by the Kev. W. S. Eainsford,
who had recently arrived from England and
created a great amount of interest.
Mr. Eainsford was a remarkably hand
some man, over six feet in height and of very
fine physique; he was an eloquent speaker
and preached with much fervor and power;
his services were always crowded, and some
times hundreds had to be turned away. He
was very popular, especially amongst the
young ladies who attended his services, and
it is said that he had nearly a closetful of
244
OF TORONTO OF OLD
worked slippers which they sent him. But,
alas ! he married an English lady, doubtless
much to their disappointment. He after
wards became assistant minister of St.
James Cathedral and subsequently went to
New York, where he became the rector of
St. George s Episcopal Church. He was
most successful and did a grand work, and
became one of the most prominent ministers
in that city.
In 1840 the St. James Cathedral was the
only Anglican church in the city and its
corporation owned a considerable amount
of valuable property, from which a large
income was derived.
The services of the Cathedral and after
wards other Anglican churches were of a
simple character, and until the coming of
the Rev. W. S. Darling as rector of the Holy
Trinity Church in 1868 there were no
" High churches. There was, however,
more exclusiveness with regard to other
denominations than there is to-day and
no disposition to fraternize with them,
although members of the Church of Scot
land were treated with more consideration
than either the Methodists, Congregational-
ists or Baptists. The teaching of the
Low Church was more Calvinistic than
Arminian.
245
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
In conversing once with the Rev. Mr.
Darling he said : " You Methodists seem to
look more favorably upon the Low Church
party in the Church of England than upon
the High Church party, but as a matter of
fact, doctrinally the High Church is more in
accord with the Methodist than is the Low
Church, and you Methodists should not
regard the High Church party so unfavor
ably as you do."
I was a member of the Anglican Church
until 1852. The ministers of that Church
whom I knew were most excellent, cultured
Christian men and preached sermons, which
were always read, and from which doubtless
many profited, but they were not, as I
remember, of an awakening character, and
lacked forcefulness. It may have been my
own fault, but I was never impressed by
them.
The Presbyterian service was of a plain
and simple character. The singing was led
by a precentor, and it was amusing to see
him using his tuning-fork to get the right
pitch. Such a thing as an organ, or " kist
o whistles " (as it was called in Scotland),
could not be thought of. As late as about
twenty-five years ago some of the younger
and more progressive members of Cooke s
Church in this city bought a harmonium for
246
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the Sunday school, where it was in use for
a short time. On attempting to play it at
one of the services the organist found that
it would not work and would give forth no
sound. On examination it was found that
the works had been glued up ! The opposing
party was of course blamed for it, and it
naturally created quite a commotion, almost
a division in the church, though eventually
the pro-organist party triumphed. Now all
the Presbyterian churches in the city that
I know of have organs, choirs, anthems and
some quartette choirs. I seldom attended
the Presbyterian church, but occasionally
heard a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Burns of
Knox Church, who was a very able and
earnest minister. I do not remember attend
ing the services in any other church except
ing the Anglican until the time I joined the
Methodist Church in 1852. I was, however,
personally acquainted with most of the
ministers in the city.
They had organs or harmoniums in their
churches whenever they could afford them,
and in some cases, as a substitute, a violin,
bass-viol and flute. I have not yet heard
of the introduction of orchestras in the
Methodist Church, as is the case in some
of the Anglican churches. In the Pro
testant Episcopal Church of St. Mary s
247
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
in New York, which I visited, they even
had a drum, and I must confess that it did
not offend my sensibilities. If one instru
ment is allowed, why not another? Up till
about 1860 it was the custom for the min
ister to line the hymns, two lines at a time,
the last two lines sung being repeated;
doubtless rendered necessary in the out-door
preaching services and the earlier meetings
in the chapels to aid those who were without
hymn-books.
The social status of the adherents and
members of the Methodist Church was not
then as high as it has been for some time
past. In fact, to become a member of that
Church was to some extent to lose caste.
Any " slips by a Methodist were usually
noted and often magnified, and a slur was
cast upon the Church generally. Their
churches were called " chapels " by the
church members and the general public.
There were very few professional men con
nected with the body. Among the large
membership of the Richmond Street Church
there was but one, a physician, and only
two or three in the Adelaide Street Church.
There were a few fairly financially substan
tial men but none who were wealthy. How
ever, there were men of ability and enter-
248
OF TORONTO OF OLD
prise, some of them bright young men, who
subsequently rose to prominent positions.
The Methodist Church was much more
strict then than it has been of late years
with regard to amusements, attendance at
theatres, dancing and card-playing being
specifically prohibited in the rules of the
Church, which were very generally observed.
To have broken them would have incurred
the risk of being disciplined and the loss of
status in the Church. These amusements,
however, were not specified in Mr. Wesley s
Rules, but were covered under the head of
" taking such diversions as cannot be used
in the name of the Lord Jesus." The rule
against " the putting on of gold or costly
apparel," although generally ignored, was
observed by some by whom the wearing of
flowers on their hats or bonnets or having
flounces on their dresses was considered
worldly. The rule prohibiting attendance
at theatres, dancing and card-playing was
expunged by resolution of the General Con
ference some years since, and it appears to
me that the Methodists now indulge them
selves in these amusements about as much
as the members of other Churches.
Love Feasts, held quarterly, were gener
ally crowded, admission being by the quar
terly ticket of membership or a note from
249
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
the minister. Attendance at class-meeting
was a condition of membership. These
meetings were attended with more or less
regularity by nearly all of the church mem
bers. In fact, converts became members of
the church by joining the classes, there
being no public reception of members.
Members were not disciplined for non-
attendance at class- meetings, but with the
assent of the minister and the leader s meet
ing they were " dropped." There were,
however, exceptions made in the case of
persons of well-known Christian character,
who constitutionally were unable to relate
their religous experience before others. In
most of the Methodist churches class-
meetings are now attended by only a small
percentage of the members. There were two
public services held during the week, a
prayer-meeting on Monday evening and
preaching on Wednesday, in addition to
class-meetings. For a considerable time
after I had joined the Church there was a
daily prayer-meeting at seven o clock in the
morning and occasionally as early as five
o clock.
While in some of the churches there were
literary or debating societies, the matter
of providing amusements and recreation
for the young people, for which provision
250
OF TORONTO OF OLD
is now made by most of the churches, was
then considered beyond their province.
There was not, however, so much need
for the churches taking up this work as
there is now, as conditions were very
different. Then most of the young people
lived at home. There were but few fac
tories and no large departmental stores
which now T employ thousands of young
people, a very large proportion of whom
come from the country and surrounding
towns and are living in boarding-houses
with but poor accommodation and without
suitable companionship; nor were there
then such temptations as assail the young
people to-day. There was only one theatre,
and that often closed for a long time. The
Young Men s and Young Women s Christian
Associations and the Young Women s Chris
tian Guild are now doing a great work in
providing recreation and suitable amuse
ments for the multitude of young people in
our city who are without homes, and many
of the churches have made provision for the
accomplishment of the same objects and
yet the ground is not half covered.
Having the data, I have thought it would
be a matter of some interest to here append
a comparative statement which I have drawn
out of the numerical positions of the
251
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
principal Churches in the City of Toronto
decennially from 1851 to 1911 :
Total Pop., 1851, Total Pop., 1861, Total Pop., 1871,
30.775. 44,821. 56,092.
No. Per cent. No. Per cent. No. Per cent
Church of
England. 11,577 37.6 14,125 31.51 20,668 36.8
Methodists.
4
,123
13
.4
6
,976
15.
56
9,596
17
.1
Presbyteri
ans
1
,538
14
.7
6
,604
14.
73
8,982
15
.9
Roman
Catholics
7
,940
25
.8
12
,135
27.
07
11,881
21
.2
Congrega
tional . .
646
2
.1
826
1.
84
1,185
2
.1
Baptists . .
948
3
.08
1
,288
2.
87
1,953
3
.5
Jews
153
0.
34
157
.28
Total Pop., 1881,
86,443.
No. Per cent.
30,913 35.7
16,363 18.9
14,612
15,716
2,018
3,667
534
16.9
18.1
2.3
4.2
0.62
Total Pop., 1891
144,023.
No. Per cent.
46,084 31.9
32,503 22.5
27,449
21,830
3,102
6,909
1,425
19.06
15.1
2.14
4.8
0.99
Church of England.
Methodists
Presbyterians
Roman Catholics. . .
Congregational . . .
Baptists
Jews .
Church of England.
Methodists
Presbyterians
Roman Catholics. . .
Congregational . . .
Baptists
Jews
Other denominations
Unaccounted for. .
It will be observed from the above table
that from 1851 to 1911 there has been a
Potal Top.,
1901,
Total Pop.. 1911,
208,043
376
,538.
No. Per cent.
No.
Per cent.
62,407
30
120,405
31.97
48,279
23.2
73,281
19.4
41,638
20.1
75,735
20.1
29,004
13.9
46,368
12.3
3,655
1.75
3,744
0.99
11,913
5.7
20,681
5.5
3,078
1.48
18,143
4.9
. . .
...
16,950
4.5
. . .
. . .
1,231
0.33
252
OF TORONTO OF OLD
decrease of percentage of membership in the
Church of England of 5.63, Roman Cath
olics 13.5, Congregationalists 1.11, and an
increase in the Methodists of 6, Presby
terians 5.4 and Baptists 2.42. During the
decade from 1901 to 1911 there has been
an increase of 1.97 per cent, in the member
ship of the Church of England and a
decrease in the membership of the Meth
odists of 3.8 per cent.
253
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXXIV.
8T. JAMES CATHEDRAL.*
DOCTOR SCADDING S " Toronto of Old
contains a long and interesting account of
the churches erected prior to the present
Cathedral, comprising biographical sketches
of some of the original pewholders from the
time of the opening of the first church until
1818, amongst whom was Major-General Sir-
Peregrine Maitland, then Governor of Upper
Canada, and who led the 1st Foot Guards
in the Battle of Waterloo. Amongst other
prominent members and contributors of the
church were the Honorable William Allan,
Honorable Peter Russell, Honorable J. B.
Robinson; Mr. Thomas Ridout, Surveyor-
* It may be considered by some that I have given
a disproportionate amount of space to accounts of
the churches, but it will be noticed that in most cases
they are of some historical value, and I think will
be found of at least equal interest to the other por
tions of these " Recollections." I have written at
greater length regarding some of the churches than
of others partly because I have had more informa
tion about them, and partly because of their historical
interest. While the lists of ministers, officials and
members may not be of general interest they prob
ably will be found interesting by not a few, and I
think will be useful as records.
254
OF TORONTO OF OLD
General; Honorable Captain McGill, Doc
tor Macaulay, Chief Justice Powell, Sir
Wm Campbell, Honorable George Crook-
shank, Mr. Wm. Chewett, Chief Justice
Elmsley, Doctor Baldwin; Messrs. C. J.
Scott, John Small, D Arcy Boulton, Wm.
Stanton; Mr. Scadding, Mr. Ketchum, Mr.
St. George and Mr. Denison.
The church, which was opened in 1803,
was a plain structure of wood placed some
yards back from the road; its gables faced
east and west and its solitary door was at
its western end and was approached from
Church Street. Its dimensions were fifty
by forty feet, and the sides of the building
were pierced by two rows of ordinary win
dows, four above and four below. Other
wise it was in its outward appearance
simply, as a contemporary American " Geo
graphical View of the Province of Upper
Canada " describes it, " a meeting-house for
the Episcopalians." The first incumbent
was the Eev. Dr. George O Kill Stewart,
who was succeeded by Dr. Strachan in 1813.
Doctor Scadding says: "Our notice of
the assembly to be seen within the walls
of the primitive St. James would not be
complete were we to omit Mr. John Fenton,
who for some time officiated therein as
parish clerk. . . . Mr. Fenton s peculi-
255
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
arities, on the contrary, arose from his
intelligence, his acquirements and his inde
pendence of character. He was a rather
small, shrewd-featured person, and at a
glance not deficient in self-esteem. He was
proficient in modern popular science, a
ready talker and lecturer. Being only a
proxy, his rendering of the official responses
in the church was marked perhaps by a little
too much individuality, but it could not be
said that it was destitute of a certain
rhetorical propriety of emphasis and intona
tion. Though not gifted in his own person
with much melody of voice, his acquisitions
included some knowledge of music.
Not unfrequently Mr. Fenton, after giving
out the portion of Brady and Tate which
it pleased him to select, would execute the
whole as a solo to some accustomed air with
graceful variations of his own. All this
would be done with great coolness and
apparent self-satisfaction. . . . While
the discourse was going on in the pulpit
above him, it was his way often to lean him
self resignedly back in the corner of his pew
and throw a white cambric handkerchief
over his head and face. It illustrates the
spirit of the day to add that Mr. Fenton s
employment as official mouthpiece to the
congregation of the English Church did not
256
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
stand in the way of his making himself use
ful at the same time as a class-leader among
the Weslevan Methodists.
/
" The predecessor of Mr. Fenton in the
clerk s desk was Mr. Hetherington, a func
tionary of the Old Country village stamp.
His habit was, after giving out a psalm, to
play the air on a bassoon and then accom
pany it with fantasias on the same instru
ment, this being added to by such vocalists
as felt inclined to take part in the singing.
We have understood two rival choirs were
heard on trial in the church. One of them
was strong in instrumental resources, hav
ing the aid of a bass-viol, clarionet and
bassoon, while the other was more depend
ent on its vocal excellence. The instru
mental choir triumphantly prevailed.*
" The pewholders in St. James Church
from its commencement to about 1818 were :
President Russell; Mr. Justice Cochrane;
* Something similar to this occurred in the Rich
mond Street Methodist Church about thirty years
since. There had been a division in the choir, and
a number of the members, led by the principal
soprano, who had a very powerful voice, left it. On
the Sunday following she, with some of the seceding
members, took their places together in the body of
the church, I am sorry to say, for the purpose of
disconcerting the members who remained, with some
new ones, and when the hymns were announced sang
with all their vocal powers. I was there at the time
17 257
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Mr. Justice Boulton; Solicitor-General
Gray; Receiver-General Selby; Christopher
Robinson; George Crookshank; William
Chewett ; J. B. Robinson ; Alexander Wood ;
William Willcocks ; John Beikie ; Alexander
Macdonell; Chief Justice Elmsley; Chief
Justice Osgoode ; Chief Justice Scott ; Chief
Justice Powell; Attorney-General Firth;
Secretary Jarvis; General Shaw; Colonel
Smith; D Arcy Boulton; William Allan;
Duncan Cameron; John Small; Thomas
Ridout ; William Stanton ; Stephen Heward ;
Donald McLean; Stephen Jarvis; Captain
McGill; Colonel Givins; Doctor Macaulay;
Doctor Gamble; Doctor Baldwin; Doctor
Lee; Mr. St. George; Mr. Denison; Mr.
Playter; Mr. Brooke; Mr. Cawthra; Mr.
Scadding; Mr. Ketchum; Mr. Cooper; Mr.
Ross; Mr. Jordan; Mr. Kendrick; Mr.
Hunt; Mr. Higgins; Mr. Anderson; Mr.
Murchison; Mr. Bright; Mr. O Keefe; Mr.
Caleb Humphrey.
" The Churchwardens for 1807-8 were
and my recollection has always been that one of the
hymns announced contained the lines:
" By faith the upper choir we meet,
And challenge them to sing."
Of course the minister had no knowledge of the
demonstration that was intended; it was really a
curious coincidence. As far as loud singing was con
cerned the seceding members had the advantage!
58
OF TORONTO OF OLD
D Arcy Boulton and William Allan; for
1809, William Allan and Thomas Ridout;
for 1810, William Allan and Stephen Jar-
vis; for 1812, Duncan Cameron and Alex
ander Legge.
" Before leaving St. James Church and
its precincts it may be well to give some
account of the steps taken in 1818 for the
enlargement of the original building. This
we are enabled to do, having before us an
all but contemporary narrative. It will be
seen that great adroitness was employed in
making the scheme acceptable, and that
pains were shrewdly taken to prevent a bur
densome sense of self -sacrifice on the part
of the congregation. At the same time a
pleasant instance of voluntary liberality is
recorded. A very respectable church was
built at York in the Home District many
years ago, the narrative referred to in the
Christian Recorder for 1819, p. 214, pro
ceeds to state, which at that time accom
modated the inhabitants ; but for some years
past it has been found too small, and sev
eral attempts were made to enlarge and
repair it. At length, in April, 1818, in a
meeting of the w r hole congregation, it was
resolved to enlarge the church, and a com
mittee was appointed to suggest the most
expeditious and economical method of doing
259
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
it. The committee reported that a subscrip
tion in the way of a loan, to be repaid when
the seats were sold, was the most promising
method. No subscription was to be taken
under twenty-five pounds, payable in four
instalments.
" t Two gentlemen, the narrative con
tinues, < were selected to carry the subscrip
tion paper round; and in three hours from
twelve to thirteen hundred pounds were sub
scribed. Almost all the respectable gentle
men gave in loan fifty pounds, and the Hon
orable Justice Boulton and George Crook-
shank, Esquire, contributed one hundred
pounds each to accomplish so good an
object. The church was enlarged, a steeple
erected, and the whole building with its
galleries handsomely finished. In January
last (1819), our authority proceeds to say,
when everything was completed, the pews
were sold at a year s credit and brought
more money than the repairs and enlarge
ment cost. Therefore, it is triumphantly
added, i the inhabitants at York erect a very
handsome church at a very little expense to
themselves, for every one may have his sub
scription money returned, or it may go
towards payment of a pew; and, what is
more, the persons who subscribed for the
first church count the amount of their sub-
260
OF TORONTO OF OLD
scription as part of the price of their new
pews. This fair arrangement has been
eminently successful, and gave great satis
faction.
In 1830 a new church edifice of stone was
erected, " and the same cool, secular ingen
uity was again displayed in the scheme pro
posed." Its dimensions were one hundred
by seventy-five feet, but it was never com
pleted so far as related to its tower, and
was destroyed by fire in 1839, when another
church was immediately built in its place.
The first vestry meeting was held on Easter
Monday, March 25th, 1842. The third
building was destroyed by fire on April 7th,
1849. The present magnificent church was
erected and completed as far as the tower
in 1852, from designs of Messrs. Cumber
land and Ridout, at a cost of $94,000. The
corner-stone of this building was laid on
November 20th, 1850. The following is the
inscription and scroll placed in the cavity :
" In the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. Amen. This corner-stone of the
Cathedral Church of St. James, in the city
of Toronto, in the county of York, Canada
West, was laid on this 20th day of Novem
ber, in the year of our Lord MDCCCL, and
in the fourteenth year of her Majesty Queen
Victoria, the Right Honorable James Earl
261
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
of Elgin and Kincardine being Governor-
General of British North America, by the
Honorable and Right Rev. John Strachan,
D.D., LL.D., Lord Bishop of the diocese ; the
Rev. Henry James Grasett, M.A., rector of
the parish; the Rev. Edmund Baldwin,
M.A., assistant minister; Thomas Dennie
Harris and Lewis Moffatt, churchwardens;
Joseph D. Ridout, James Browne, William
Wakefleld, Alexander Dixon, with the rector
and the churchwardens, being the committee
for the erection of the Cathedral ; Frederick
William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout,
architects; Metcalfe, Wilson and Forbes,
builders."
The following is a copy of a writing in
parchment in the vestry of the Cathedral :
" The church having been destroyed by
fire on the 6th January, 1839, and again on
the 7th day of April, 1849, was rebuilt by
the voluntary contributions of the congre
gation, assisted by a grant of 1,000 ster
ling from the Society for the Promotion of
Christian Knowledge. Except the Lord
build the house, their labor is but lost that
build it. "
The tower was completed in 1864 and
the hanging of the bells took place in
1866. The tower clock was placed in posi-
262
OF TORONTO OF OLD
tion in 1875, and the magnificent spire,
about three hundred and six feet in
height, erected some time after. Many
months were taken in chipping the bells in
order to give them the right pitch. The
chimes were first rung between twelve and
one o clock on Christmas morning, either
in 1866 or 1867.
The following address was presented by
the committee appointed by the donors of
the Cathedral clock :
" The very Keverend the Dean of Toronto,
the churchwardens and congregation of the
St. James Church. Dear Sirs, Upon the
completion of the spire of the St. James
Cathedral your fellow-citizens (irrespective
of denomination), appreciating the efforts
made in thus adding to the architectural
beauty of our city, ascertaining that the
tower and bells provided by you could be
utilized by the erection of an illuminated
clock therein, which would be a great advan
tage to the citizens and strangers visiting
us, and also as a beacon at night to mariners
coming to our port for business and safety.
Accordingly a public meeting was called to
discuss the above, at which a committee was
formed to carry out this desirable object.
The committee were thereby required to
263
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
open negotiations with T. W. Benson for the
purchase of his celebrated prize clock with
Cambridge chimes, which we succeeded in
securing through the kind exertions of C. E.
Bowker, Esquire, of Finchley, England.
: This beautiful and valuable piece of
mechanism has safely arrived and is now
ready to start on its long journey, and we
trust that it will be like the old flag of the
Empire under which it was built continue
for a thousand years to be useful in record
ing the flight of time and for future genera
tions in this Dominion become an example
of British manufacturing enterprise. In
presenting to you the clock, the committee
desires to express the approval of your lib
erality in co-operating with us in this under
taking and fervently hope that, at this
1 cheerful time of the year/ when we are
reminded of Him who proclaimed < Peace on
earth and good will toward men, mutual
charity may be enhanced and promoted by
us in the accomplishment of this public
improvement in the capital of Ontario.
" On behalf of the subscribers.
"ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Chairman.
" JOHN PATERSON, Treasurer.
"JOHN LAIDLAW, Secretary.
" Toronto, the 24th day of December, 1875."
864
OP TORONTO OF OLD
It may be interesting to state that the
chairman was a Methodist, the treasurer a
Baptist and the secretary a Presbyterian.
Mr. Laidlaw, the secretary, perhaps did
more than any other member of the com
mittee by his untiring efforts in securing
funds for the clock. He had been a prom
inent merchant and was in partnership with
Mr. James Scott under the firm name of
Scott and Laidlaw from 1850 till 1855, when
the partnership was dissolved. He then
went into business alone and went under
during the great crash of 1857. He was a
very genial, polite old gentleman and
appeared to know everybody. He was a
well-known figure as he walked about with
slowly measured step, with his plaid
wrapped about him. Not being in busi
ness at the time, he was always ready for
a gossip, and before the conversation ended
he was almost sure to say something regard
ing the Cathedral clock, the securing of
which seemed to be his chief mission. It
was certainly a great joy to him when the
object of his labors was secured.
The following is a list of the clergymen
of the church : The Very Rev. George O Kill
Stewart, LL.D., Dean of Ontario, first rec
tor, 1807-11; Right Rev. Bishop Strachan,
D.D., LL.D., first Bishop of Toronto and
265
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
second rector, 1811; The Very Rev. H. J.
Grasett, D.D., first Dean of Toronto from
1836 till 1882 and third rector ; John Philip
Dumoulin, M.A., D.C.L., fourth rector, 1882-
1896, subsequently Bishop of Niagara;
Right Rev. Edward Sullivan, D.D., D.C.L.,
Bishop of Algoma, 1882-96, and fifth rector,
1896-9; the Rev. Edward Ashurst Welsh,
M.A., D.C.L., sixth rector, 1899-1909; Rev.
Henry Pemberton Plumptre, seventh rector,
1909.
In 1913 in addition to the rector were the
following clergy and officers: Assistant
clergy, Rev. C. V. Pilcher, M.A., B.D., and
Rev. F. G. Moore, Parish House; deacon
esses, Miss Burpe and Miss Boswell ; organ
ist and choirmaster, Albert Ham; vestry
clerk, T. E. Rawson; churchwardens rec
tor s warden, Colonel H. Brock; people s
warden, Dr. F. LeM. Grasett; lay represen
tatives to the Diocesan Synod, Professor M.
Hutton, A. H. Campbell, Lieutenant-Colonel
H. J. Grasett.
The church has been very active and is
doing a splendid work in what is known as
the downtown section of the city. The
Parish House, opened in 1909, has proved
a great boon to young men and women who
are far from home and friends. In connec
tion with the Parish House there are men s,
266
OP TORONTO OF OLD
boys and women s clubs, with a catering
department. There is the Laymen s Mis
sionary Committee, Brotherhood of St.
*/ 9
Andrew, Women s Auxiliary (senior and
young women s branches), Mothers Meet
ing, Girls Friendly Society, Men s Bible
Class and Cricket Club.
Some time after our return to Toronto
from Kingston in 1843 I joined the choir as
one of the boy singers in the second St.
James Cathedral. The organist at that
time was a Mrs. Gilkinson. Amongst the
members whom I remember were Mr. George
D. Wells, a prominent barrister, who had a
very fine counter-tenor voice; Dr. Larratt
W. Smith; Mr. David B. Reid; Mr. Lang,
of the Registry Office, who had a splendid
tenor voice; Mr. Mills, of Messrs. Owen,
Miller and Mills, a basso-prof undo ; Miss
Hocken, the first soprano, and her sister,
the principal alto; the former was a very
diminutive, dainty lady, being only about
four feet ten inches in height ; she had a very
fine soprano voice. The boy singers, with
myself, were John Small, the late Collector
of Customs; James Small, his cousin;
Thomas H. Lee (who is still living), and
another boy whose name I do not remember.
There being no organ at the time, a piano
was used. Mrs. Gilkinson was subject to
267
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
fainting fits and occasionally had to be
carried out of church. This at first caused
a considerable commotion amongst the con
gregation, but after a time they got used
to it.
There were three high windows in the
nave of the church, on each of which was
a figure, I think, of one of the Apostles.
There were two broad aisles in which were
placed free seats with backs made of pine;
and there were a number of square pews,
some of them with curtains, where the occu
pants could shut themselves off from the
other members of the congregation and
enjoy the sermon, or possibly take a nap,
without distraction.
The Rev. H. J. Grasett at that time and
for many years after was the rector of the
church. Occasionally we were favored with
a discourse from the Bishop and other min
isters. I am sorry to say that then I did
not pay much attention to the sermons of
the various preachers, nor do I remember
anything of their discourses, which were
probably above my head. The Dean, during
his long rectorship of St. James Cathedral,
was very highly esteemed and popular with
the members of his congregation and the
community. He read his sermons, as was
then generally the custom in the Anglican
268
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Church, and had an easy, flowing style. He
was a rather tall man and had a slight stoop.
He died in 1882.
I can well remember the Bishop as he
used to walk up the pulpit-stairs followed by
the verger. He had a rather harsh voice and
a pronounced Scotch accent. He was in the
habit of almost constantly whistling as he
walked along the streets, and someone said
he was heard whistling " Yankee-doodle " as
he walked up the steps to the pulpit, but as
to this I cannot vouch. We boys in the
choir used to get considerable amusement
when the Bishop read the Ten Command
ments in the communion service, as he
always pronounced the words " the heavens
above and the earth beneath," in the second
commandment, " the heavens aboove and
the airth beneath," at which we gave a sig
nificant look at each other. It is said that
the Bishop, in giving advice to a young
Scotch minister who came to this country,
said, " My good young man, you will never
do anything in this country until you get
rid of your broad Scotch accent." " Oh, wad
some power the giftie gie us, to see oursel s
as others see us !"
Bishop Strachan was about five feet six
inches in height, compactly built and erect.
His features were strongly marked, his
269
RECOLLECTIONS AND EECORDS
expression stern and his look penetrating;
his whole appearance was indicative of
great firmness and strength of will and one
of much more than ordinary calibre. He
would attract notice anywhere. Of course
his history is too well known for me to
attempt any account of his long and varied
career. I am simply speaking of him as I
saw him. He was unquestionably one of the
most prominent and forceful men in Upper
Canada during the second quarter of the
last century.
Occasionally the Eev. Mr. Winstanley, of
Scarboro, occupied the pulpit. He was a
short and very stout man, weighing about
four hundred pounds, and as the pulpit-
door was rather narrow, the verger used
to give him a " boost " in order to get him
through.
270
HOLY T1MNITY ClirilCII. TKIXITY SI^ AUK.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXXV.
OTHER CHURCHES.
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.
THE Church of the Holy Trinity was built
in the year 1845, the funds (five thousand
pounds sterling) for which were supplied
by an English lady. The following is an
account of the origin and erection of this
church from the churchwardens report for
the year 1883 :
" In the year above named (1845) the sum
of five thousand pounds sterling was placed
in the hands of Doctor Longley, Bishop of
Ripon at the time, and afterwards Arch
bishop of Canterbury, to be delivered by
him to the Bishop of Toronto for the pur
pose of founding and, so far as practicable,
endowing a church in his diocese to be styled
the Church of the Holy Trinity, and to be
free for all worshippers forever. Every pre
caution was at the time taken that the
incognito of the donor should be maintained.
" The Bishop of Ripon hastened to inform
the Bishop of Toronto of the unexpected
boon ; and on the actual receipt of the muni-
271
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
ficent gift ( five thousand pounds sterling, as
mentioned above), Dr. Strachan proceeded
with all promptitude to carry into effect the
intentions of the anonymous benefactor of
his diocese.
" It was decided that the new church
should be erected in the city of Toronto,
where at once the Honorable John Siincoe
Macauley, a retired Colonel of the Royal
Engineers, residing at the time in the place,
made a donation to the Bishop of a valuable
site, very eligibly situated. On the 1st July,
1846, the foundation stone of the church
was laid, and by the autumn of 1847 the
sacred edifice was completed in all its essen
tial parts, very much as it is seen now ; and
on the 27th October (the Eve of St. Simon
and St. Jude) it was consecrated with all
due solemnity and opened for divine service
in perpetuity.
" The Rev. Dr. Scadding was requested
by the Bishop to act as the first incumbent,
with the Rev. Walter Stennett as assistant
minister, and through their exertions, under
the immediate direction and supervision of
Doctor Strachan himself, a considerable con
gregation was soon formed, gathered in
from among the inhabitants of the sur
rounding neighborhood and other newly-
organized and sparsely-peopled portions of
272
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
the city." ( Both Doctor Scadding and Rev.
W. Stennett retained their positions as mas
ters in the Upper Canada College during
their incumbency; the latter gave his
services gratuitously for a number of years. )
Doctor Scadding was rector until 1875 and
the Rev. Walter Stennett was assistant min
ister until 1854. Mr. J. W. Brent (who was
an uncle of Bishop Brent) was senior
churchwarden from 1847 till 1856, and Mr.
Thomas Champion junior churchwarden
from 1847 till 1853.
I attended the church after the destruc
tion of St. James Cathedral by fire in 1849
until 1852, and after receiving instruction
by Doctor Scadding, was confirmed by
Doctor Strachan, the Bishop of Toronto.
Doctor Scadding was a very kind and
delightful man and not inclined to be too
exacting when he put me through my exam
ination. As everyone knows, he was most
indefatigable in his researches into the
earlier history of Toronto, and his " Toronto
of Old is not only most interesting but
also of a high literary order. The Doctor s
sermons were always good, but to me he
did not seem to be as good a preacher as he
was a writer; he was sometimes quite ner
vous and hesitating in his manner, espe-
cinlly when giving out notices which he had
18 273
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
not written down. Everybody who knew
him admired this dear il man.
The name of the donor, which was Mrs.
Swale, was not divulged until after her
death.
The following are the rectors after Doctor
Scadding : Rev. W. S. Darling, 1875-86 ; Rev.
John Pearson, D.C.L., 1886-1910 ; Rev. Der-
win T. Owen, L.Th., 1910. Assistant minis
ters, 1913 : Rev. John Hodgkinson and Rev.
P. L. Berman. Churchwardens: Messrs.
J. L. Turquand and George P. Reid. Dele
gates to Synod: Messrs. H. P. Blachford,
C. J. Agar and J. A. Worrell, K.C. Organ
ist: Mr. G. Holt. Sunday School Superin
tendent: Mr. Thomas Hopkins.
The church is doing a very energetic and
important work in what is now a downtown
neighborhood, and amongst other organiza
tions has a mission to the Jews under the
charge of the Rev. Paul Berman, one of the
assistant ministers, and a staff of workers.
THE PKIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
The introduction of Primitive Methodism
into Canada originated with Mr. William
Lawson, who had been a local preacher,
class-leader and steward of a Wesleyan
Methodist Society in Brampton, Cumber-
274
OF TORONTO OF OLD
land, England, but had joined the Primitive
Methodist Connexion prior to his departure
for Canada. In a work on Primitive Meth
odism in Canada by Mrs. R. P. Hopper ( for
merly Miss Agar), kindly loaned to me by
Mrs. Thomas Thompson, we learn that in
1829 he, with his wife and six children,
accompanied by Mr. Robert Walker, who
learned his trade with him, emigrated to
Canada. They landed at Quebec on May 29th
and arrived in York (Toronto) on June
llth. Robert Walker remained a year in
Quebec and then joined the family in July.
Mr. Lawson began preaching in the Market
Square, and finding a few Primitive Meth
odists from Yorkshire, invited them to his
house and formed them into a class, being
assisted by Mrs. Lawson at all the ser
vices. In October a house was secured on
Duke Street the first Primitive Methodist
preaching-place in Canada. This place
being too small, Mr. Thomas Thompson, Sr.,
father of the late Mr. Thomas Thompson
(one of Toronto s prominent citizens, well
known as the proprietor of the Mammoth
House dry goods establishment) offered his
schoolhouse on Melinda Street. The con
gregation still growing, a hall was occupied
on Col borne Street. Mr. Lawson, Mr.
Thompson, Sr., and Mr. Robert Walker
275
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
were all local preachers and laid the foun
dation of the new society. The first minister
of the church was the Rev. 11. Watkins, sent
out by the English Conference at the request
of Mr. Lawson. The membership on his
arrival consisted of sixteen persons. These
early Primitive Methodists did a grand
work in Canada and were noted for their
earnestness and self-sacrificing devotion,
and amongst their preachers were men of
much ability and considerable learning.
The first church was on the west side of
Bay Street a few doors below King Street,
and was opened for service on October 21st,
1832. Mrs. Hopper tells us that the chapel
was of brick, thirty-six by forty-six feet and
thirty-four feet in height, with a basement
of stone; the gallery and the middle of the
church had pews and the rest was seated
with benches. It would seat over five hun
dred people. In the basement was an excel
lent schoolroom and two " dwelling houses,"
one of which was occupied by the mission
ary. In his report he says " he was never
better suited with a house, being warm in
winter and cool in summer." The total cost
of the building was only 740 ($2,960). The
principal members of the church at this
time were the Walker, Thompson, Lawson,
Carbert, Agar, Mutton, Bond, Hutchinson
276
OF TORONTO OF OLD
and Sheard families, Joseph McCausland,
Thomas Bell, John Bugg, Joseph Kent, Rob
ert Sargant, James Carless, of the Upper
Canada Bible and Tract Society, and a Mrs.
Towler, a school teacher, a gifted and spiri
tual woman of refinement and education,
who sometimes gave public addresses. I
remember going (from curiosity), with
some other youths, into one of the
prayer- meetings, when they held revival
services in the schoolroom, and was much
impressed and sobered by a prayer offered
by Mrs. Towler. Mr. Robert Walker (one
of our most prominent merchants for many
years, an excellent citizen and fine Chris
tian) who was there, called to see me the
next morning and gave me a " talking to "
for my want of reverence and respect at the
meeting.
Mrs. Hopper gives an interesting account
of the choir and its leader, George McClus-
key. She says : " He was an impetuous
Irishman, warm, kindly and genial in his
disposition. His soul was tuned to harmony,
and he played the bass viol in the Bay Street
choir, while Henry Harrison played the flute
and Robert Walker the melodeon. George
McCluskey was never so happy as when
praising God on strings and pipes accom
panied by loud sounding cymbals. The
277
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
music book used at that date was called
* The Musical Monitor, a collection of
metres and anthems published in New York
in 1827, containing the Hallelujah Chorus
from the Messiah, and one my father used
to sing and which I liked because there was
so much go in it. The words were :
Treble Solo.
Strike the cymbal, roll the tymbal
Let the trump of triumph sound.
Chorus.
Powerful slinging, headlong bringing,
Proud Goliath to the ground.
Treble Solo.
From the river, rejecting quiver,
Judah s hero takes the stone.
Chorus.
Spread your banner, shout hosannas,
Battle is the Lord s alone.
Musical Interlude.
Solo.
See advances,
With songs and dances,
Female Choir.
All the band of Israel s daughters
Catch the sound, ye hills and waters, etc."
The oldtime Methodists used to say that
they did not believe in the devil having all
278
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the good tunes, and adopted some tunes
from well-known secular songs it must be
said not always with the best judgment. For
instance, I heard at an anniversary service
( I do not remember whether it was held by
the Primitive. Methodists or not) an anthem
or hymn sung to the tune of the then well-
known jovial drinking song :
Here s to the health of all good lasses;
Merrily, merrily, fill your glasses!
There was certainly plenty of go to it,
especially in the fugue parts.
In 1855 a new church was built on Alice
Street. This church was burnt in 1873 and
the services were held in Shaftesbury Hall
until the completion of the new church on
Carlton Street in 1875. The principal min
isters were the Rev. Drs. J. C. Antliff, E.
Barrass, Robert Boyle, James Edgar, M.D.,
and Revs. R. Cade, J. Nattrass and John
Davidson.
The Primitive Methodist, Episcopal and
Bible Christian Churches were united with
the Methodist Church of Canada under the
name of the Methodist Church on July 1st,
1884.
279
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION CHURCH.
The Methodist New Connexion Church
was built on Temperance Street, next door
to the Temperance Hall (now the Star
Theatre), in the latter part of the forties.
The principal ministers were the Revs. W.
McClure, David Savage, H. O. Crofts, J. H.
Robinson and Thomas Goldsmith. Some of
the prominent members and promoters of
the church that I remember were Messrs.
Robert H. Brett, John Doel, James With-
row, William Firstbrook, James Good,
James Foster (father of Mr. W. A. Foster,
the founder of the National Club ) , and later
on Mr. John J. and the Rev. W. H. Withrow
and Messrs. Matthew Sweetnam and Robert
Wilkes. This Church and the Wesleyan
Methodist were united under the name of
the Methodist Church of Canada in 1874.
TRINITY CHURCH (King Street East).
Trinity was one of the three churches
originally set apart and endowed by private
gift, the other two being St. James Cathe
dral and Holy Trinity. It was built by Mr.
John Ritchey from the designs of Mr. H. B.
Lane, architect. Trinity Church was opened
for divine service on Wednesday, February
14th, 1844. The sermon was preached by the
280
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Lord Bishop of Toronto (Doctor Strachan).
The first minister of the church was the Rev.
William Honywood Ripley, B.A., of Univer
sity College, Oxford, who died on October
22nd, 1849, at the age of thirty-four years.
He had no salary. He also filled the office
of honorary secretary of the Church Society
of the diocese of Toronto and was second
Classical Master of the Upper Canada Col
lege. The second minister was the Rev. R.
Mitchele, B.A. He was followed by Canon
Sanson from 1852 to 1904, the Rev. T. R.
O Meara from 1904 to 1906, and from 1900
the present minister, Canon H. C. Dixon.
The first churchwardens were Messrs. Wil
liam Gooderham and J. G. Worts, and the
first organist Miss Lee, step-sister of Mr.
Thomas H. Lee.
BERKELEY STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
Berkeley Street Methodist Church was an
offshoot of the Adelaide Street Methodist
Church, which had a Sunday school and
mission in a small building on Duke Street
near the corner of Berkeley Street. The
original trustees were Dr. W. T. Aikins,
Thomas Storm, James Gooderham, Emerson
Coatsworth, George Rowell, William Myles,
James Bell, J. C. Fawcett and S. S. Martin.
281
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
The first church was a roughcast building
which was torn down and the present brick
church erected in 1871, after which a new
board of trustees was appointed. Up till
1869 the pulpits of the Berkeley and
Adelaide Street Churches, with Yorkville,
formed the Toronto East Circuit, and the
same ministers officiated in them all.
Amongst these pastors were the Rev. Dr.
Briggs, W. R. Parker, Chancellor Burwash
and Hugh Johnston. In that year Berkeley
Street Church was set apart from Adelaide
Street and the Rev. Win. Hannon was
appointed its first minister.
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXXVI.
EARLY METHODIST CHURCHES.
THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH IN TORONTO.
THE first Methodist church was built in
1818 through the untiring efforts of Elder
Ryan, who mortgaged his farm to raise
money for the outlay. The land was pur
chased from Jordan Post (after whom Jor
dan Street was named). The chapel stood
a little back from King Street, now the site
of the Bank of Commerce on the corner of
Jordan Street Jordan Street not then
being opened. In size it measured about
thirty by forty feet. The frame was made
and erected by Mr. Robert Fetch (who after
wards built the Adelaide Street Methodist
Church). Joseph Carroll, an old soldier,
who lived on Duke Street ( father of the Rev.
Dr. John Carroll, the author of a number
of interesting works, including excellent
sketches of the preachers of the time), lent
them logging-chains by which they drew the
timbers up. " It was a clapboard pointed-
roof building resting upon posts, a make
shift substitute for a good foundation. For
283
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
many years it was a stranger to paint and
underneath the place on stormy days the
winds howled and whistled. No fence sur
rounded it, but on every side an orchard
grew, extending back as far as where Wel
lington Street is now, while farther to the
south trees and shrubs and long dank and
noisome weeds covered the land sloping to
the bay. Double doorways facing King
Street afforded two entrances. In the gable
above a small round window was inserted,
while down each side three more windows
admitted light into the place. A narrow
passage down the centre of the church led
to a high, square and boxlike pulpit with
sounding-board. On either side rude benches
extended to the walls. The men sat on
benches to the right and the women to the
left. This strange old Eastern custom was
followed here throughout the entire exist
ence of the chapel, but went out of custom
when the little church was sold."
It was opened for divine service on the
fifth day of November, 1818. The opening
sermon was preached by the Rev. David
Gulp, who has the distinction of having been
the first preacher in the first Methodist
church in the town of York. Before him,
seated on the wooden benches, amongst
284
OF TORONTO OF OLD
others were Thaddeus Osgoode; Jesse Ket-
chum (who had a pew in St. James
Church) ; W. P. Patrick, a man of intellect
and influence, clerk of the Local House ; Dr.
Thomas Stoyles ; Thomas D. Morrison, then
a Government clerk, afterwards a prominent
physician, a representative from the county
of York in the House of Assembly, and
Mayor of Toronto; and Mr. and Mrs. Doel,
just arrived from Philadelphia.
The illuminating of the church for the
evening service was provided by a liberal
supply of tallow candles in eight old-
fashioned sconces, one at either side of the
pulpit and three down each side of the
building. A short intermission was always
a necessity at each service while the lights
were being snuffed.
Mr. Patrick was appointed superintend
ent of the Sunday school; Jesse Ketchum,
secretary, and Dr. Morrison, librarian.
The population of York at the time was
about eleven hundred. There was only one
other church in the town the St. James
Episcopal and a place where the Presby
terians held their services.
This was the only Methodist place of
worship until the building of the Adelaide
Street Church.
285
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
THE ADELAIDE STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
The Adelaide Street Methodist Church,
erected in 1832, was a plain brick building,
two stories in height, with the principal
entrance on Adelaide Street and with a seat
ing capacity for about twelve hundred, cer
tainly a large building for the time. The
pulpit was on the southern end and around
the church were galleries. The Sunday
school and lecture-room was a low and very
badly lighted room in the basement, the
entrance to it being from Toronto Street.
The builder was Mr. Robert Fetch, who tried
to immortalize himself by having his initials
carved on either end of the cornice. From
1833 the ministers from George and Ade
laide Street Churches alternated until 1840,
when the union was broken and George
Street and Adelaide Street Churches became
separate charges. The last ministers who
officiated at both of the churches were Revs.
Egerton Ryerson and G. R. Sanderson. In
1841 Mr. Sanderson was removed to Hamil
ton and Doctor Ryerson remained in charge
of the Adelaide Street Church. He was
succeeded in 1842 by the Revs. Alexander
McNabb and Lachlan Taylor.
The following is a list of the ministers,
commencing in 1843 : Henry Wilkinson,
286
OF TORONTO OF OLD
William Price and William Pollard, 1843-4 ;
George R. Sanderson and George Young,
1845; John Carroll and Noble F. English,
1846 ; John Carroll and Joseph E. Ryerson,
1847 ; John Ryerson and S. S. Nelles, 1848-9 ;
Alexander S. Byrne and John S. Evans,
1850; Ephraim B. Harper and David C.
McDowell, 1851; Ephraim B. Harper and
Wm. H. Poole, 1852 ; Wellington Jeffers and
Wm. H. Poole, 1853 ; John Gemley and John
Bredin, 1854-5; John Gemley and Joseph
Jones, 1856 ; John Borland and Robert Fow
ler, M.D., 1857; John Borland, John C. Ash
and William H. Laird, 1858; J. Borland,
William R. Parker and William E. Walker,
1859 ; Henry Wilkinson, William E. Walker
and William Briggs, 1860; Isaac B. How
ard, Chas. Lavell and William Hall, B.A.,
1861-2; Isaac B. Howard, Win. W. Clarke
and N. Burwash, B.A., 1863; John A. Wil
liams, W. W. Clarke and N. Burwash, B.A.,
1864 ; John A. Williams and Hugh Johnston,
B.A., 1865 ; John A. Williams, George Rob-
son and George Bridgman, B.A., 1866 ; Wil
liam Stephenson and George Bridgman,
M.A., 1867; William Stephenson and Jas.
Hannon, 1868; William Stephenson, 1869;
George Cochran, 1870-2 (both inclusive).
It will be noticed that this list contains
the names of some of the most able and
287
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
prominent ministers of the Methodist
Church, and with a few exceptions all have
passed away.
From 1843 to 1857 the ministers alter
nated with the Yorkville Church, and from
1858 to 1864 also with Berkeley Street.
Yorkville was set off as a separate charge
in 1865 and Berkeley Street in 1869. The
Adelaide Street Church was demolished in
1870, Avhen the congregation worshipped in
the tabernacle erected on the low ground on
the southern end of the Metropolitan Square
until the Metropolitan Church was opened
in 1872.
The members of the Adelaide Street
Church whom I remember were the follow
ing : The Rev. Dr. Egerton Ryerson ; the Rev.
Dr. Anson Green; the Rev. James Spencer,
editor of The Christian Guardian; J. R.
Armstrong, foundryman; James Good,
f oundrynian ; John Eastwood, paper-maker ;
Thomas Storm, builder; Dr. W. T. Aikins;
Robert James, agent Montreal City Bank;
Richard Brewer, stationer; Robert Mc-
Phail, stationer; Peter McPhail, stationer;
Win. Reynolds, baker (organist) ; George
Rowell, brewer ; Mrs. S. E. Taylor* ; John
* Mrs. Taylor was a sister of Mayor Bowes. She
resided on the north side of Richmond Street a little
east of Victoria Street, was noted for her piety and
288
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
Rowland, tailor; Samuel Rogers, painter;
Mrs. Sarah Reeve.
ELM STREET CHURCH.
Up to 1853 the Richmond Street Church
had a mission and Sunday school in a brick
building on Duke Street near Berkeley, and
the Adelaide Street Church had a building
for similar purposes on Teraulay Street. In
the above year a change took place and Rich
mond Street took charge of the Teraulay,
and Adelaide of Duke Street. About this
time, owing to the large increase in the con
gregation and membership of the Richmond
Street Church through the preaching and
revival services held by Rev. James Caughey,
the congregation exceeded the capacity of
the building, which was frequently over
crowded, and the necessity for the erection
of a new building became evident. A com
mittee consisting of some of the prominent
benevolence, and had an almost seraphic appearance
and a remarkable gift of prayer. Looking upon her
death as the gateway to a brighter and better world
she requested that there should be no mourning for
her when she died, but that instead hymns of rejoic
ing should be sung by those who followed her to her
burial. This request was complied with and a large
number (of whom I was one) followed in the fun
eral cortege from the house to the Adelaide Street
Methodist Church, singing hymns on the way. Prob
ably no other such funeral has taken place in Canada.
Mrs. Taylor died on March 28th, 1859.
19 289
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
members of the church was appointed to
organize and erect a new church, and in the
meantime services were held in a school-
house at the corner of Teraulay and Edward
Streets.
After a time it was decided to build a
church on Elm Street and the following
trustees were appointed: Richard Woods-
worth, Richard Yates, James Price, John
Tyner, Richard Hastings, John Eastwood,
John Macdonald and Richard Score. Under
their direction a large roughcast building
with a dome was built in 1854-5.
A number of the prominent members left
the Richmond Street Church and connected
themselves with the Elm Street Church,
amongst whom were the Brown family, Doc
tor Robinson, James Price, Wm. T., Alfred
and T. G. Mason, James Jennings, T.
Aikenhead, Edward Stephenson and James
Patton.
On Sunday, October 27th, 1861, the church
was destroyed by fire. There was an insur
ance on the building which formed the
nucleus of a fund for the building of a new
church, which it was decided to erect. It
was determined that the building should be
of brick. The corner-stone was laid on the
Queen s Birthday, 1862, by the Rev. Dr.
Enoch Wood, who had preached at the open-
290
OF TORONTO OF OLD
ing of the church some seven years previ
ously. Until the completion of the new
church the congregation occupied a small
church on Elizabeth Street, and subse
quently occupied a temporary building
erected for their use on Elm Street. The
second building was of a very plain char
acter and entirely devoid of architectural
ornament.
Up till 1865 Elm Street formed a portion
of the Toronto West Circuit and the minis
ters preached alternately in the Richmond,
Queen and Elm Street Churches. Elm
Street Church was set off in 1865, and is
now known as Toronto third. The minis
ters of the church since that time until 1880
were the Revs. Edward Hartley Dewart,
James Henry Bishop, William Smith Grif
fin, W. W. Carson, Edward F. Goff, George
H. Bridgman, Samuel J. Hunter, Isaac
Tovell, John Potts and Thomas W. Jeffrey.
In 1876, when Dr. Potts became pastor,
the growth of the congregation became so
great that it became necessary to enlarge
the building, which was done at the cost
of $39,000. The width of the church, the
dimensions of which had originally been
fifty-four by eighty-four feet, was increased
to ninety-seven feet, and at the same time
a schoolroom was erected. The building has
291
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
a tower seventy-six feet in height and a
graceful spire with an altitude of one
hundred and thirty-six feet.
For a long time the Elm Street Church
was an influential one, with a strong official
board. Owing to the great change which
has taken place in the neighborhood during
the past few years its services have neces
sarily partaken more of a missionary char
acter, and under the effective ministrations
of its present pastor, the Rev. W. F. Wilson,
an important work is being done.
THE QUEEN STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
Originally the Queen Street Church was
a small old-fashioned building with a cot
tage roof and with a seating capacity for
about four hundred people. It was started
as a mission by the membership of the old
George Street Church about the year 1841,
and until 1845 the pulpit was supplied by
ministers connected with the former church,
amongst whom were the Revs. J. P. Hether-
ington, John G. Manly and John B. Selley,
and by ministers from the Richmond Street
Church until 1847. From 1847 until 1871,
when the Rev. Hugh Johnston, M.A., became
pastor, Queen Street Church formed part of
Toronto West Circuit. Up till 1865, when
292
OF TORONTO OF OLD
the Elm Street Church was set off as a
separate church, known as Toronto Third,
this church, Richmond and Elm Street were
supplied by the same ministers, and until
1871, in which year the Queen Street Church
was set off and known as Toronto Fifth, the
same ministers alternated between it and
Richmond Street. For a considerable time
the basement was used on week days as a
private school taught by a Mr. Darby.
In 1856 the present church was erected at
a cost of 2,653, equivalent to |10,612, the
congregation worshipping in the Temper
ance Hall on the west side of Brock Street
during its erection. The church was dedi
cated in January, 1857, the opening services
being conducted by the Rev. Enoch Wood.
The original trustees were Messrs. Thomas
Mara, agent; Abel Wilcock, builder; Alex
ander Sutherland, tallow chandler; John
Kidney, florist; Henry Leadley, hide mer
chant; Theophilus Earl, dry goods mer
chant; James Prettie; William Briscoe,
wagon builder; John Crelock, butcher;
Alderman John Baxter; W. J. Turner,
saddler; Isaac Clare, blacksmith.
In 1871, under the pastorate of the Rev.
Hugh Johnston, an addition of thirty feet,
costing |5,289, was erected at the south end
of the church, increasing the seating capa-
293
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
city from one thousand to fifteen hundred.
It was in Queen Street Church that Dr. Mor-
ley Punshon delivered his first lecture in
Canada on May 29th, 1868.
The superintendents of the Sunday school
were Messrs. Henry Leadley, Samuel Shaw,
John Crossley, A. Sutherland, W. Keighley,
Mr. Lawrence, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Cox,
James L. Hughes, Dr. J. B. Willmott,
Edward Tyner, J. B. Brine, John Earls,
Clemett P. Paull and Albert Ogden.
The choir was a prominent feature in this
church. In addition to the organ several
instruments were used. The leader was
Alderman Baxter, who was noted for his
fine counter-tenor voice.
294
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XXXVII.
MARCH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
FROM an address delivered by the late
Rev. R. A. Fyfe, D.D., Principal of the
Woodstock Collegiate Institute, we learn
that the first Baptist chapel was built on
what was then known as March Street.
" At the time (1832) the street had been
laid out, but there were scarcely any build
ings on it, and no one could predict that it
would not become one of the very best
streets in the city. The chapel itself was
very far from being attractive to look at,
besides being very small. It could not seat
comfortably more than one hundred and
sixty people. Miserable houses sprang up
all around it, and, what was still worse,
many of them were inhabited by the most
vicious and miserable kind of people, so that
the whole street soon became extremely
unsavory in every sense of the term.
" For sixteen long years the outward con
dition of the Baptists of this city might be
compared to that of those unhappy crim
inals who were by their Tuscan tyrants tied
295
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
hand to hand and face to face with the rot
ting dead. The surroundings of the church
were constantly growing worse, and thus the
last part of their sojourn there was worse
than the first. Often on Sunday evenings a
policeman was secured to patrol the side
walk in front of March Street Church to
keep down the uproar which children and
others would thoughtlessly or wilfully make
in the neighborhood.
" The first pastor was the Rev. A. Stewart,
who seems to have met with some difficulties
as pastor, and he resigned his office in 1836.
The members were not homogeneous, and
the three pastors who were stationed in
1840-4, namely, Rev. Messrs. W. H. Coombes*
(who was sent out from England by the
Colonial Baptist Missionary Society of Eng
land in 1840 at the request of the church),
Tapscott and Campbell, were unable to weld
or work them together, so in 1844 a large
portion of the membership and one-half of
the wealth were scattered, never again to be
gathered.
" In the last named year there were sixty-
four members on the books. These could
not all be found, and they were scarcely
* I attended the school of Mr. Coombes in Kingston
in 1842-3, and have a book presented to me by him.
He was an excellent teacher.
296
OF TORONTO OF OLD
able to raise |400 for the new pastor s sal
ary. This was not a very cheering exhibit
after fifteen years work."
Doctor Fyfe was called to the pastorate in
September, 1844, and resigned in 1848, in
which year the Bond Street Church was
opened for public worship. Up to this date
all members who received baptism were
immersed either in the Toronto bay, at the
foot of Bay Street, or at York Mills. Doctor
Fyfe was succeeded by Doctor Pyper, who
continued as minister until 1855. When
Doctor Pyper became pastor there were not
quite one hundred members, and at the
conclusion of his ministration they had
increased to two hundred and forty-nine.
In 1855 Doctor Fyfe again became pastor,
and about the close of 1860 the late Doctor
Caldicott became its pastor until his death
in 1869. He was succeeded by the Rev. W.
Stewart, who, owing to his ill-health,
resigned his pastorate in May, 1872. (Dur
ing his pastorate both Yorkville and Parlia
ment Street Churches were organized.) In
the following February he was succeeded by
the Rev. Dr. J. H. Castle. The church grew
so rapidly that it resulted in the building
of the church at the corner of Jarvis and
Gerrard Streets at the cost of f 103,000. The
297
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
last services in the Bond Street Church were
held on the last Sunday in November, 1875.
In 1881 the Beverley Street Mission Hall
was built. Doctor Castle resigned his posi
tion to accept the principalship of McMaster
University in April, 1881, which position he
resigned from ill-health in 1889. During an
interval of eighteen months the pulpit was
supplied by various preachers and in Octo
ber, 1882, the Rev. Dr. B. D. Thomas was
called to the pastorate. He resigned in
July, 1903, and was succeeded by the Rev.
H. F. Perry, D.D., who continued as pastor
until 1909, and in May, 1910, the present
pastor, the Rev. T. T. Shields, was appointed.
Amongst the members of the church in
1840-3 were Messrs. Robert Cathcart, dry
goods merchant; David Maitland, baker;
Robert Love, druggist; Peter Paterson, Sr.,
hardware merchant; John Rose, druggist;
W. Langley, boot and shoe maker, and
Thomas Lailey, Sr.
The officers of the church for 1856, which
is the earliest record I can obtain, were the
following : Pastor, Rev. R. A. Fyfe ; deacons,
William McMaster, A. T. McCord, S. Dad-
son, Sr., D. Paterson and B. M. Clarke;
treasurer, D. Paterson; assistant treasurer,
W. Langley, Sr. ; clerk, George Longman;
trustees, William McMaster, T. Lailey, Jr.,
298
OF TORONTO OF OLD
George H. Cheney and D. Buchan. Nearly
all of the above were prominent citizens.
The present trustees (1913) are Messrs.
George Lugsdin, J. G. Scott, K.C., D. E.
Thomson, K.C., LL.D., C. J. Holman, K.C.,
LL.D., J. Short McMaster, R. S. Hudson,
James C. Scott and Thomas Wilkins ; clerk,
Robert Lawson.* (The pews in the Jarvis
Street Baptist Church are all free.)
From the very small beginnings in the
chapel on March Street in 1832, with only
about sixty-four members, the growth of the
denomination, especially in recent years, has
been very rapid, there being now twenty-
eight churches and three missions within
the limits of the city and one in Eglinton,
with a total membership of 9,779.
* Mr. Lawson has served the church, either as
treasurer, deacon, clerk, etc., for the past fifty-four
years. A portion of the information given in the
above account has been derived from a historical
sketch written by him in 1888, largely from personal
knowledge.
299
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE RICHMOND STREET WESLEY AN
METHODIST CHURCH.
THE Richmond Street Church, situated on
the south side of Richmond Street midway
between Yonge and Bay Streets, on the site
now occupied by the Methodist Book and
Publishing House, to which establishment
the property was sold, was, with perhaps the
exception of the St. James Street, Montreal,
the largest and most influential Wesleyan
Methodist church in Canada. It had the
largest membership, and indeed often was
called the " Cathedral of Methodism." Its
Sunday school for a number of years was the
largest Methodist Sunday school in Canada.
Though not a handsome building it was
substantially built, with a portico of four
Doric columns, and had a seating capacity
for about eighteen hundred, and as many as
two thousand have been crowded into the
church. In the centre of the church there
were a number of square family pews a
most awkward arrangement. It had a very
large gallery seating nearly as many as the
300
RICHMOND STHKKT .M KT HOD 1ST CHURCH.
Erected 1844.
STJil-KT .M KTI I ODIST CliritCll.
1-
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
body of the church. I can well remember
when a boy going through the church during
the time of its construction and being
impressed with its to me immense size.
As there was not a large hall in the city at
the time, nearly all the important public
religious meetings, including those of the
Bible Society, were held there. A bequest
of all his property, about 1,600, by Mr.
Thomas Clarke, the hatter (who had been a
class-leader and a local preacher, and who
carried on business on King near Yonge
Street and died in 1843) led to the erection
of the church. The lot (100 by 175 feet)
upon which the church was built was pur
chased from Jesse Ketchum for 862 cur
rency, equivalent to $3,450.
The following copy of the inscription of
the scroll placed in the corner-stone has
been kindly furnished by Mrs. C. C. Taylor :
" In the name of the ever blessed Trinity,
this corner-stone was laid by the Rev. Mat
thew Richey, A.M., chairman of the West
ern Canada District, and the Rev. E. Evans,
secretary in connection with the British
Wesleyan Conference, on the 20th day of
August in the eighth year of the reign of
Victoria, A.D. 1844. The Rev. J. P. Hether-
ington and the Rev. J. B. Selley being resi
dent ministers ; Messrs. Joseph Wilson, J. G.
301
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Bowes, Thomas Storin, William Osborne,
Thomas Wheeler, Alexander Hamilton,
Richard Woods worth, Samuel Shaw, John
Sterling, C. and W. Walker, trustees for this
chapel ; Richard Woodsworth, builder." The
dedication of the church took place on June
29th, 1845, the Rev. Matthew Richey
officiating.
Richmond Street Church contained a
large body of earnest and devoted Christian
workers who gave their time and means
unstintedly for the promotion of the work
of God, and whose names are given in the
accompanying list. Prayer-meetings under
the charge of prayer-leaders were estab
lished in private houses in various sections
of the city, and much good was accomplished
in that way. There were no less than twelve
class-leaders, some of whose classes met in
private houses, and fourteen local preachers
who worked under a local preacher s plan,
and who performed a grand work for the
Church, preaching not only in various parts
of the city but in the country and some of
the neighboring towns and villages, and
occasionally in the city churches.
The church had under its charge the con
gregation worshipping in a small wooden
building on the north side of Richmond
Street, west of York Street, called "Rich-
302
OF TORONTO OF OLD
mond Second," in which the colored people
held their meetings. It will be noticed
from the accompanying list that there were
several colored local preachers. One of
these, Thomas Smallwood, a man of much
earnestness and considerable ability, was
most reverential in his manner and had a
remarkable gift of prayer.
The services of the church were generally
of much interest, special services were fre
quently held, and there were many conver
sions under the preaching of the ministers
of the church. Sometimes these were sea
sons of great spiritual awakening, and under
the ministration of the Rev. James Caughey
there was a great revival. Mr. Caughey
was a native of Ireland who emigrated to
the United States. He was converted when
a young man and ordained a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1834, when
he was about 23 years old. This remark
able man did not have a college education
but was a diligent student and an extensive
reader, and his mind was well stored with
the thoughts of the best English writers.
His first labors were not attended by any
uncommon results.
He records that while stationed as a
minister at Whitehall, New York, in 1839,
he was favored with some remarkable
303
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Divine manifestations and received a great
spiritual uplift and a commission to go as
an evangelist to England, after having first
visited Canada. His way having been
opened up, he obeyed this call, and in 1840
went to Canada and conducted services in
Montreal and Quebec, where an extraor
dinary influence attended his preaching and
there were many conversions. He then
crossed to England, visited Ireland, and
preached in many cities and towns in both
countries, in all of which his labors were
crowned with great success, nearly thirty-
two thousand having professed conversion
under his immediate labors during seven
years.
He returned to America in 1847, and
spent his summers in literary labors at his
residence in Burlington, Vermont, and in
the winter months preached in many of the
cities in the United States, in some of which
he was singularly successful.
In November, 1851, he visited Toronto
and preached in the Richmond Street and
other Methodist churches. Many hundreds
of conversions took place, numbers were
added to the churches, and much interest
was created throughout the city. He
remained in Toronto seven months. The
services throughout the whole period were
304
OF TORONTO OF OLD
generally crowded, many corning in from
the country and neighboring towns to hear
the notable preacher.
Mr. Caughey was a many-sided man and
a prolific writer. He published several
books three of which I have containing
sermons, experiences and reflections, with
some very fine descriptive passages, all most
interesting and inspiring reading. Some of
his books had an immense sale. His pub
lishers say that about seventy thousand of
his works were sold in six years. In some
respects he was unique. He revisited
Toronto in 1868, and continued to labor in
other places for some time longer.
He spent his last years at New Bruns
wick, New Jersey, and died January 30th,
1891, at the age of eighty years.
Sunday was a somewhat strenuous day
for some of the members of the church, with
class-meeting or morning Sunday school at
9 or 9.30; preaching service from 11 till
12.30; Sunday school, 2 to 4; young men s
prayer-meeting from 4 to 4.30; preaching
services from 6 to 7.30 ; prayer-meeting, 7.30
to about 8.30. I might say this was my
usual Sunday routine for a number of years.
(There was a morning Sunday school until
1880, of which Mr. Marmaduke Pearson was
superintendent. )
20 305
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
The closing and valedictory services of the
Sunday school, which were held on March
18th, 1888, were of such an interesting char
acter that I consider them worthv of record.
ti
The following extracts from a report in
The World of March 19th, 1888, will give a
fairly good idea of the meeting :
" The time-honored pulpit of the Richmond
Street Methodist Church yesterday gave
place to a large platform banked in front
with numerous plants and flowers. The
occasion was the valedictory in connection
with the Sabbath school, and it is almost
needless to say that this will long be pleas-
urably remembered by those who were pres
ent. ... At two-thirty in the afternoon
the sacred edifice was filled to overflowing;
the galleries were reserved for the scholars
of the Sunday school and their teachers and
friends, and as one looked up from the
reporters table at the tier on tier of glad,
smiling faces, it was plain to be seen that
the event being celebrated was a great one
in the history of the church and its Sabbath
school. In the body of the sacred edifice
were a number of citizens, former scholars,
and their wives, sons and daughters,
amongst whom were John J. Withrow,
Aldermen Millichamp, Gill and Downey,
Messrs. Frank Reynolds, Geo. J. Black well,
306
OF TORONTO OF OLD
W. F. Mountain, labor reformer A. McCor-
mick, Alfred Coyel, A. Hewitt, W. J. Ham
mond, and Chief of the Fire Department
Ashfield. On the platform the following
familiar faces were noticed surrounding the
chairman: the superintendent of the Sab
bath school, W. H. Pearson ; Revs. Dr. With-
row, E. A. Stafford, Hugh Johnston, Thomas
Cullen ; W. W. Edwards, Dorchester ; Messrs.
William Gooderham, John Dillon, Montreal ;
James Jennings; Richard Brown, superin
tendent of the Sherbourne Street Methodist
Sunday school ; Rev. John Pickering, pastor
of the church ; Rev. Dr. A. Sutherland ; Rev.
John A. Williams, General Superintendent
of the Conference; Rev. William Briggs;
Alderman Baxter ; Messrs. H. Turner, Rich
ard Clark, E. Morphy, Alexander Brown,
Thomas G. Mason, Henry E. Clarke, M.P.P.
" The admission to the afternoon meeting
was by ticket only, and it was claimed that
fully twelve hundred people, pupils and
ex-pupils and teachers of the school, were
present. The proceedings were opened with
prayer by the Rev. Thomas Cullen, a former
pastor of the church, which was followed by
a hymn. Then the chairman, Mr. Pearson,
arose and on his own behalf and on behalf
of the officers, teachers and scholars of the
Sabbath school, welcomed the large audience
307
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
to the Richmond Street Church. He then
gave a very interesting history of the Sab
bath school; of the difficulties that had to
be met with; of the fightings without and
within that had to be contended against and
of the ultimate and lasting success of the
school. He pointed with pride to the fact
that no less than twenty-four ministers of
the Gospel had formerly been members of
the Sabbath school, while to its influences
for good are traceable the conversion of
many hundreds.
" After the address of welcome by the
superintendent the service partook of the
character of an experience meeting, many
bearing testimony to the benefit they had
derived from the school, while others gave
most interesting and touching reminiscences.
" Amongst those present were a number
of ministers and some former pupils and
teachers, who came from various places out
side of the city, one as far as from Montreal.
Amongst those who took part were : Messrs.
William Gooderham, who was secretary of
the George Street school in 1843; Richard
Clark, who had been a teacher in the school
for thirty-seven years ; John Dillon, of Mont
real, formerly of the firm of Reford and
Dillon, a former secretary of the school and
who had seen the corner-stone laid in 1844 ;
308
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Richard Brown, superintendent of the Sher-
bourne Street Sunday school; Edward
Morphy, the well-known watchmaker; and
Alderman John Baxter, so well known at
the time. He confessed to mingled feelings
of gladness and sadness as he looked down
on the vast multitude. The worthy repre
sentative of St. Patrick s Ward spoke very
tenderly of old days in George Street
Church and of its silver-tongued preacher,
the Rev. Matthew Richey, and stopped to
wipe away tears as he mentioned the name
of his mother. ... He had been greatly
benefited by his attendance at the Sabbath
school and church. . . . Mr. Richard
Brown, superintendent of the Sherbourne
Street Sabbath school, said he had attended
the old Richmond Street Sunday school and
had found much that was good, including
his wife. Short addresses were also deliv
ered by Mr. Alexander Brown, who attended
the Sunday school for thirty-two years; Mr.
James Jennings, who stood up with M r.
Pearson when that gentleman was married,
and Mr. Edward Morphy, to whose soul in
that church thirty-seven years ago God had
spoken peace.
" Letters of apology for non-attendance
were read from Mayor Clarke, Mr. G. S.
Bowes, Rev. Dr. Alexander Burns, Rev.
309
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
John B. Clarkson, James Keiller, former
members of the school. During the meeting
the superintendent was presented with a
handsomely-framed illuminated address.
" In the evening the church was again
crowded. . . . The speakers were the
Rev. Thomas Cullen, Mr. Thomas G. Mason,
Rev. Wm. Briggs, General Superintendent
Williams, Rev. Dr. Sutherland, Rev. John
Tamblyn, Rev. Marmaduke Pearson, Mr.
William Edwards and the pastor, Rev. John
Pickering. At the conclusion an old-time
Love Feast was held, at which a number
stood up and told of their conversions and
how these were brought about in the
Sabbath school of the Richmond Street
Church."
The change in the character of the neigh
borhood from a residential to a business sec
tion, and especially the opening of the
Metropolitan Church in 1872, with which a
large number of the members of the Rich
mond Street Church connected themselves,
caused the removal of a very large portion
of its congregation and membership, and in
1888 the church property was disposed of
and soon after a portion of the congregation
removed to the new church on Me Caul
Street.
310
OF TORONTO OF OLD
And thus this old historic church in which
multitudes had worshipped, where so many
faithful and able ministers had proclaimed
the Gospel, and regarding which many still
retain pleasant and grateful memories,
having fulfilled its mission, came to a close.
Commencing in 1852, the following were
the pastors, first of the circuit comprising
Richmond and Queen Street Churches, and
later on with Elm Street included, and after
wards of the church alone: Henry Wilkin
son and John Douse, 1852-3; Ephraim B.
Harper, M.A., 1853-4; Charles Lavell, M.A.,
1854-5; John Borland, 1854-6; John Lea-
royd, 1856-7; James H. Bishop, 1856-8;
W. R. Parker, 1858 ; George Douglas, LL.D.,
D.D., 1857-9; Wm. Scott, 1859; Charles
Fish, 1859-61 ; James Elliott, 1860-62 ; Wm.
Briggs, D.D., 1862-3 ; Gilford Dorey, 1860-2 ;
Wm. Pollard, 1863-5; Wm. Stephenson,
1865-6 ; George Young, D.D., 1866-7 ; George
Cochran, D.D., 1868-9; Wm. J. Hunter,
D.D., 1868-9; Alexander Sutherland, D.D.,
1870-2; T. W. Jeffery, 1873-5 ; George Young,
D.D., 1876-8; Isaac Tovell, D.D., 1879-81;
Thomas Cullen, 1882-4; John Pickering,
1885-7.
The following were the superintendents of
311
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
the Sunday school : George Bilton,* 1840-1 ;
Alexander Hamilton,! 1842-52, inclusive;
John Macdonald, 1852-3; John Holland,
1854-6, inclusive; John Macdonald, 1857;
W. H. Pearson, 1858-88.
Ministers of the Gospel who were mem
bers of the Sunday school : Henry W. P.
Allen, George M. Brown, Alex. Burns, D.D.,
LL.D., Thos. W. Campbell, B.D., David C.
Clapison,* Solomon Cleaver, M.A., D.D.,
Richard Clarke, John S. Clarke, John B.
Clarkson, M.A., Wm. Codville, D.D., Daniel
Connoly, George H. Cornish, LL.D., W. H.
Crossley, Alex. Drennan, James E. Dyer,
S. A. Dyke, Wm. W. Edwards, H. Fisburn,
Wm. Hawke, John Hough, Luther Hough-
ton, Hugh Johnston, M.A., B.D., Jabez B.
Keough, Thomas S. Keough, Chas. Lang-
ford, Leach, Andrew Milliken, Wm.
McDonough, Marmaduke L. Pearson,
Samuel Sing, Geo. Sayers, Enoch W. Skin
ner, Wm. Wood Squire, B.A., Matthew
Swann,* John Tamblyn, James Woods-
worth, D.D., R. W. Woodsworth.
A partial list from memory of those who
were pewholders in the Richmond Street
* George Street chapel.
t George Street till 1844.
312
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Church is given: Wilson R. Abbott (col
ored) ; Mrs. Adams, millinery establish
ment; James Aikenhead, hardware mer
chant; Willis Addison,f plasterer (colored) ;
James Ashfield, gunsmith; James Austin,
grocer; Thomas Bilton, merchant tailor;
George Bilton, merchant tailor; Thomas
Brown, bookbinder, and his seven sons-
Thomas, Robert, John, Richard, William,
George and Charles ; J. G. Bowes, wholesale
dry goods merchant; James Burns, grocer;
Ephraim Butt,* carriage builder; James
Butt, blacksmith; Donald Cameron, tailor;
Jeremiah Carty, chandler; Richard Clarke,
tailor; W. Boone Clarke, tailor; Henry E.
Clarke, trunkmaker; George Cline,* leather
merchant; John Cornish, boot and shoe
store; Samuel Creighton, turner; R. S.
Cuthbertson, confectioner; George Dillon,
accountant; William Edwards, saddler;
Robert Edwards, saddler; John Eastwood,
dry goods merchant; James E. Ellis, jewel
ler; Mrs. Forbes; Hetherington Foster, col
lector and sexton; Alexander Hamilton,*!
painter ; Richard Hastings,* dry goods mer
chant; John Higginbotham, boot and shoe
* t Class-leaders are indicated by a (*) and local
preachers by a (t). There was also a women s class
led by Mrs. (Dr.) Robinson, and another, the name
of whose leader I do not remember.
313
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
store; Joseph Higginbotham, boot and shoe
store; James Jennings, dry goods mer
chant; James Keiller, accountant; Jabez B.
Keough,f carpenter; Thomas S. Keough,f
accountant; George Matthews, shoemaker;
Thomas Mason and his sons (Wm. T.,f
J. Herbert, Alfred and Thomas G. ) , account
ants ; John Macdonald,f wholesale dry goods
merchant; - - McKenzie, grocer; Andrew
Milliken,f shoemaker; Peter Milton, tailor;
James Mink, hotel and livery stable keeper
(colored) ; James Patton,* china ware mer
chant; James Price,* builder; William
Osborne, N.P., land agent; T. C. Orchard,
agent British Colonist; Marmaduke Pear
son, dry goods merchant; Robert Phillips, f
plasterer (colored) ; John Purkiss, ship
builder; Charles Rea, shoemaker; Dr. Slade
Robinson;* William Robinson, accountant;
John Rogers,fchinaware merchant; James
Rooney, grocer; Thomas Smallwood,f saw
sharpener (colored) ; Richard Score, mer
chant tailor ; Miss Shaw ; Samuel Shaw, axe
and edge tool factory; David Sleeth, prin
ter; Henry Stephens,! printer; James Ste
phens, f printer; John Sterling,*! boot and
shoe store; William Steward,* saddler;
William Tamblyn, carpenter; James Taafe,
tailor; Joseph Toye, cabinetmaker; John
Tyner,f boot and shoe store; Thomas
314
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Vaux, Clerk, Legislative Assembly ; Charles
Walker, merchant tailor ; Charles Walker,*
salesman ; William Walker, merchant tailor ;
John Walker, book-keeper ; Richard Watson,
tinsmith; Benjamin Walton, stonecutter;
William Wharin, watchmaker; S. Watson,
merchant tailor; Thomas Wheeler, watch
maker; William Wilkins, grocer; Richard
Yates,* grocer.
The organist of the church in 1852 was
Miss Higginbotham ; she was followed by
Mr. Edward Hastings, who was organist for
many years, and who was succeeded by Mrs.
Howson.
The following were the trustees at the
time the property was sold to the Methodist
Book and Publishing House in 1887 : John
Eastwood, Henry Edward Clarke, John
Jacob Withrow, William Henry Pearson,
Edward M. Morphy, William Edwards,
Richard Philp, James Ashfield, Joseph Pat
terson; Geo. J. Blackwell, William Dever,
Thomas Tushingham, A. McCormick, James
Hobbs, James Britt, Wm. W T harin, Mark E.
Snider.
315
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
.CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE REV. JAMES CAUGHEYAN
APPRECIATION.
IN November, 1851, in compliance with
an invitation from the joint quarterly board
and the ministers of the Richmond and
Queen Street Methodist Churches, the Rev.
James Caughey came to Toronto to conduct
a series of services for the promotion of a
revival in these churches. Mr. Caughey was
a native of Ireland who emigrated to the
United States and was converted when a
young man and ordained a minister of the
Episcopal Methodist Church in 1834, when
he was about twenty-three years old. This
remarkable man had not a college educa
tion but was a diligent student and exten
sive reader, and his mind was richly stored
with thoughts from the best English writers.
His first labors were not distinguished by
any uncommon results. The passage from
the writings of Dr. Adam Clarke, the com
mentator, urging that the light and influ
ence of the Holy Spirit were absolutely
essential to impart power, efficacy and suc-
316
REV. .1 \.M K- C \rcil KY.
.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
cess to the preaching of the Gospel, led
him to a renewed consecration of himself
and all his powers of service to God, and
from this time his labors were crowned with
much greater success.
In 1839, shortly after he was appointed to
Whitehall, New York, he contemplated mar
riage, but it became evident to him that it
was not the will of God, as he says he lost
all sense of the favor of God and his dis
tress and gloom became so great that he
could not unpack his library or arrange his
study. He then earnestly sought direction
from God, which was conveyed to him in a
remarkable manner. Quoting from his jour
nal : " This was on the 19th Julv, 1839. The
t/ i
same evening about twilight eternal glory
be to God when reading in the small room
adjoining my study, a light, as I conceived
from heaven, reached me; my soul was sin
gularly calmed and warmed by a strange
visitation, and in a moment I recognized the
change. The following in substance was
spoken to me, but with a manner and
rapidity I cannot possibly describe. Every
ray of divine glory seemed to be a word that
the eye of my soul could read and something
which my judgment could perceive and
understand. These matters which trouble
thee, must be left entirely alone. The will
317
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
of God is that thou shouldst visit Europe.
He shall be with thee there and give thee
many seals to thy ministry. He has pro
vided thee with funds. Make thy arrange
ments accordingly, and next Conference ask
liberty from the proper authorities and it
shall be granted thee. Visit Canada first.
When this is done, sail for England. God
shall be with thee there and thou shalt have
no want in all thy journey ings, and thou
shalt be brought back in safety again to
America.
Like St. Paul, Mr. Caughey " was not dis
obedient unto the heavenly vision." He
asked and obtained permission from his
Conference in 1840 to visit Europe. Before
setting out, however, he visited Canada,
where an extraordinary influence attended
his preaching, particularly in Quebec and
Montreal. Five hundred persons were con
verted under his labors at these places in
a few months. Thus encouraged, he set out
for England by way of Halifax. He landed
at Liverpool on July 29th, 1841.
After visiting the Wesleyan Conference
then in session at Manchester, and being
cordially invited by the Rev. Thomas
Waugh, a prominent Methodist minister,
to visit Ireland, he re-embarked at Liver
pool and sailed to Dublin, where he opened
318
OF TORONTO OF OLD
his ministry. His first sermon aroused great
interest and caused considerable excitement
and led to his being invited to again preach
at night. The services in the chapel were
continued for weeks and resulted in the con
version of a great many. His success from
thenceforth was wonderful, almost beyond
precedent. He labored in Dublin, Limerick,
Cork and Brandon in Ireland, and, recross-
ing the channel, held meetings in Liverpool,
Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Huddersfield, York,
Birmingham, Nottingham, Lincoln, Boston,
Sunderland, Gateshead, Scarboro, Chester
field, Doncaster, Macclesfield, Wakefield,
and some other minor towns, until 1847,
when he considered it his duty to return to
America. During the seven years of his
stay in England and Ireland nearly thirty-
two thousand professed conversion under
his immediate labors.
After his return Mr. Caughey spent his
summers in literary labors at his residence
in Burlington, Vermont, and during the
winter months he preached successively in
New York, Albany, Providence, Lowell, Fall
River, Warren and Cincinnati. In some of
these places he was singularly successful,
and in all of them large numbers were added
to the Church. Then, as stated, he came to
319
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Toronto in 1851 and commenced his labors
in the Richmond Street Methodist Church.
In January, 1852, at the request of some
of my Methodist friends, I went to hear him
preach and was not at all favorably
impressed. He actually wept when preach
ing! I therefore concluded that he must
be a hypocrite and went away considerably
disgusted. However, something drew me to
the church again, and this time " the Word
was sharper than a two-edged sword," and
I became convicted of my sinful condition
and the need of at once seeking forgiveness,
and when the invitation was given for all
who felt their need of salvation to go down
to the basement of the church, I, with tremb
ling, found my way there and went forward
and knelt at the penitent bench. Yes, I, a
member of the Church of England, found
myself a penitent at a Methodist prayer-
meeting and amongst the people whom
hitherto I had not held in much respect. I
remained for some time in much darkness
and distress, but at last the light broke in
and I was able to rejoice in the full con
sciousness of forgiveness.
After careful consideration, and having
read the rules of the Methodist Church and
attended some of the meetings, I considered
it to be my duty to become a member of that
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
Church, where I felt I could receive that
help, counsel and sympathy which I could
not then look for in the Church of England.
I immediately joined the Sunday school
and on February 19th, 1852, was elected a
teacher with three other young men who had
united with the church at the same time as
myself (one of whom, Mr. George Bowes, of
Milton, is living and a few months since was
still teaching a Bible class). I continued
as a teacher until December, 1858, and then,
when twenty-six years of age, was appointed
superintendent and retained that position
until March, 1888, when the church was
closed. I estimate that over six thousand
passed through this school during my super-
intendency. I then joined the Metropolitan
Church, where I taught a Bible class for
twenty-four years, and in 1912 resigned
after sixty years continuous service in the
Sunday school. In April, 1855, I became a
class-leader and organized a class of thirty-
five boys, and have led a class continuously
up to the present time.
Mr. Caughey carried on his services in
Toronto for seven months (from November,
1851, to the end of June, 1852) in the Rich
mond, Adelaide and Queen Street Methodist
Churches principally in the Richmond
Street Church, it being the largest. He
21 321
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
preached seven times a week and usually
conducted an afternoon meeting on five days
during the week. His sermons on Friday
nights were on holiness and were almost
exclusively addressed to Christians. Great
interest was created throughout the city,
and the services during the whole period
were generally crowded, quite as much so in
the closing weeks as at the beginning many
people coming in from the country and the
neighboring towns to hear the notable
preacher.
I was so young at the time that I was not
qualified to fully appreciate the merits of
Mr. Caughey s discourses, but I was always
interested, benefited and stimulated, and I
might say sometimes completely carried
away by them. Mr. Caughey s appearance
as he entered the pulpit always impressed
me. It seemed as if he had come from the
very presence of God, so radiant was his
face. He always prayed like one who had
direct access to the throne of grace, and
sometimes a wonderful influence rested on
the people while he supplicated God on their
behalf. He was not what might be called a
handsome man ; he was dark complexioned,
his features regular and his face indicated
great strength of character and when in
repose was rather stern. His voice was not
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OF TOEONTO OF OLD
exactly musical but most pleasing and of
great compass and his enunciation very dis
tinct, so that even when he lowered his
voice to almost a whisper he could be heard
throughout the whole church.
His sermons were generally colloquial
and abounded with apt illustrations from
many sources. He spoke with such a kind
persuasiveness when pleading with sinners
that it seemed to melt every heart, but at
times his denunciations of sin were ter
rific as he pictured the awful doom that
awaited the impenitent. He believed in and
preached a material hell; he insisted on
restitution being made by those who had
wronged or defrauded others, as well as con
fession for wrongdoing. Sometimes he was
intensely personal and would address a
single individual in the audience and refer
to him as " that man who is sitting under
the gallery," and apparently endowed with
prophetic insight he would most graphically
picture his condition, without ever having
received any information regarding him,
and not a few confessed afterwards that
their cases were accurately described.
The effect of his preaching was very
remarkable. Often persons would make
restitution of what they had dishonestly
taken; others would ask forgiveness from
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RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
those whom they had wronged, and he
received numerous letters (some of which
he read from the pulpit) from others whose
lives he had described with so much minute
ness, asserting that he had been told all about
them and was betraying confidence, which,
of course, was not the case. Naturally he
raised considerable opposition, was severely
criticized and maligned, and charged with
so terrifying people that they became insane.
Mr. Caughey, however, was well able to suc
cessfully defend himself against the charges
of his detractors. He w r as a powerful and
skilful controversialist and gave his oppon
ent some hard knocks. There was much of
the militant in his composition, and he was
absolutely uncompromising.
Occasionally there were extraordinary
manifestations of feeling under his preach
ing. Sometimes the whole congregation
would be swept as by a mighty wind, and
here and there cries would arise from those
in the agony of conviction. And here it may
be added that such manifestations were by
no means uncommon under the preaching of
the Wesleys, Finney and a number of others.
Mr. Caughey s sound judgment and com
mon sense always enabled him to repress
any manifestations of wildfire. Meetings so
controlled always resulted in great good to
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
many, thus showing that the manifestations
were not those of mere excitement but were
the result of divine influence.
Mr. Caughey, possessing a cultured and
well-stored mind, brought from that treas
ury " things new and old." Some of the
passages in his sermons were truly eloquent,
and he was gifted with a vivid imagination
which sometimes led him to soar into the
regions of fancy. The following passage
from one of his stenographically reported
sermons, from the text, " Eejoice evermore,
pray without ceasing, in everything give
thanks," 1 Thess. 5 : 16-18, is an illustration :
" Were we called upon to embody and
delineate the spirit of the Gospel, we would
not dip our pencil in the black dye of melan
choly, to paint a dark and dismal figure,
with cloudy countenance and dismal brow,
clothed in sable, and heaving sighs, with a
downcast look and a mournful step, as if the
world were one wide burial-ground and hex-
pathway was continually among graves ; and
the only light that gleamed upon that path
was the ghastly light that glimmered in a
charnel-house ; and the only sound that met
her ear was the shriek of the death struggle
and the chant of the funeral dirge. No; I
would dip my pencil in the loveliest hues of
heaven, to paint a bright and beautiful spirit
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EECOLLECTIONS AND BECORDS
from the skies, with the love of God spark
ling on her countenance and the glory of
God beaming on her brow ; clothed with gar
ments of light and crowned with a wreath
of amaranth; with a smile of such sweet
serenity as would tell that all within was
peace the peace of God; and an aspect of
holy gladness caught from every sight of
beauty and every sound of melody; with a
buoyant step becoming a traveller to the
skies, and an upward look raised rejoicingly
to Him who is her hope and happiness, and
to that heaven from which she came and to
which she is returning; walking amidst
earth s snares with white robes unspotted
by its defilements, or descending from her
high and holy communing with God to min
ister to man s welfare as heaven s minister
ing spirit of mercy; entering the abodes of
misery and making the broken heart to sing
for joy; visiting the dwellings of rejoicing
and hallowing all their happiness with the
smile of God."
Mr. Caughey was quite a prolific writer
and published several books (four at least,
three of which I have) containing sermons,
experiences and reflections, with some very
fine descriptive passages, all most interest
ing and inspiring reading. Eleven hundred
of his " Eevival Miscellanies " were sold in
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
one week and over ten thousand in about one
year. In my copy of his book, " Showers of
Blessing," which is the sixth edition, the
editor says : " About seventy thousand of
Mr. Caughey s works were sold in six years."
Regarding one of these volumes the Rev.
J. H. Jowett, the well-known pastor of the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New
York, writes in his book, " The Passion for
Souls " : "I frequently consult a book given
to me many years ago and now out of print
( Earnest Christianity ), an account of the
life and journal of the Rev. James Caughey.
There is much in that journal that reminds
one of David Brainard and John Wesley."
He had a keen appreciation and enjoy
ment of the beautiful in nature and art, and
in parts of his works gives graphic and
eloquent descriptions of scenery and build
ings, including some of the old castles in
England. His writings contain many classi
cal allusions, poetical quotations, and much
fine word-painting. In preaching he had
the faculty of making scenes and events
which he depicted live before you. He was
-what might surprise some a most prac
tical man. He insisted on the names and
addresses of all professed converts being
kept on record, in view of their being looked
after, and he exercised a very careful super-
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RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
vision over this part of the work. He
insisted that the church should be properly
heated and ventilated and would sometimes
stop in the middle of a sermon and have the
windows drawn down. An article of his on
church architecture in an appendix to his
" Earnest Christianity " is well worthy of
consideration.
Mr. Caughey was unique. He copied no
one and could not be copied, and certainly
must be ranked as one of the three greatest
revivalists of the last three-quarters of the
past century, and I think the most pictur
esque of them all. Finney s* labors extended
over a longer period, but probably his minis
trations did not reach a greater number,
while there were more extraordinary mani
festations under his ministry and less of
human agency whole communities being
swept as by a tornado, sometimes even when
he was not personally present. And while
he had a logical mind and was a profound
thinker, he does not appear to me as being
anything like as versatile as Mr. Caughey.
We nearly all know something of Moody and
his wonderful work a plain, uneducated
* Charles G. Finney, 1792-1875, was first a Presby
terian and afterwards a Congregational minister. He
was President of Oberlin College, Ohio, and the author
of a number of works, chiefly theological.
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
man with great faith in God his resource
fulness, forcefulness, common sense, indom
itable perseverance, fearlessness and entire
consecration.
While in Toronto Mr. Caughey was the
guest of Mr. Richard Yates, a class-leader in
the Richmond Street Church (then a direc
tor and afterwards President of the Gas
Company), who guarded him from all
" intruders " with watchful care. Naturally
there were many who wanted to see and con
verse with Mr. Caughey, and the house was
besieged by numerous visitors who wanted
interviews, but Mr. Yates stood guard like
a watchdog, and there was " no admittance "
to anyone but the especially favored or
urgent cases. Mr. Caughey was escorted
from the house to the church by Mr. Yates
as if to keep guard over him, and as they
walked soberly and sedately together, arm
in arm, it was a picturesque sight. Both
were tall and as Mr. Caughey always wore a
cloak it reminded one of the long ago. While
in Toronto he was almost a recluse, seldom
visiting anyone.
I have a volume of Mr. Caughey s
" Revival Miscellanies," presented by him
to Mr. Yates, and which was given to me by
one of the latter s relatives, containing the
following inscription:
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RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
To Richard Yates, Esq.
In presenting this volume to my dear friend, Mr.
Yates, a tide of gratitude passes over my soul. Never
shall I forget the happy months more than seven
of them I have spent under your hospitable roof.
Months of mercies from my God and uninterrupted
kindness from my friend! O may my good and gra
cious Lord lavish his loving kindness upon you, as
you have upon your grateful guest and brother in our
Lord Jesus Christ.
JAMES CAUGHEY.
Toronto, July 2nd, 1852.
The ministers of the circuit, the Revs.
Henry Wilkinson and John Douse, worked
in harmony with Mr. Caughey, with the cor
dial co-operation of the members of the quar
terly board. Many hundreds professed con
version and united with the church, amongst
whom were some who had been noted for
their open profligacy and whose Christian
lives afterwards showed the reality of the
change. The churches were greatly quick
ened and the influence of Mr. Caughey s
labors widespread, extending beyond the
Methodist Church and the city.
In 1853 and 1854 Mr. Caughey conducted
a series of meetings at Hamilton and Lon
don and in 1868 revisited Toronto. He
seemed to have aged very much since his
first visit and appeared to be very nervous
and somewhat irritable, and, although there
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OF TOKONTO OF OLD
were a number of conversions, his sermons
were not attended with as much power as at
his first visit. He had in the interval made
an unsuitable marriage, which I think ham
pered him in his work. I have had no infor
mation regarding his labors after his depart
ure from Toronto. He spent his last years
at New Brunswick, in New Jersey, and it is
said that his wife kept so close a watch over
him that very few of his numerous friends
who called were allowed to see him. He
died of heart failure on January 30th, 1891,
at the age of eighty years.
It was not my intention to write a
biography of the Kev. James Caughey, and
I have written this very imperfect sketch of
him in order that the present generation
may have some information regarding a
most remarkable man, whose labors in the
city resulted in so much spiritual good to
the community, the effects of which have
been continued down to the present time,
and to help to keep green the memory of one
to whom under God I owe so much and
towards whom I entertained a sincere affec
tion. Perhaps some of my readers may
think I have said too much and that it is
out of place in what purports to be " recol
lections." However, Mr. Caughey is one of
my recollections. Some of my Methodist
331
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
friends, and perhaps others, may be pleased
to have this account from one of the few who
are left who had the privilege of attending
his ministry; and here I might say that I
think it would be a good thing were some
publishing house to print another edition of
one of Mr. Caughey s works, say, " Revival
Miscellanies ; or " Showers of Blessing."
Both are most interesting reading, and I am
sure the publication would prove helpful
to anyone interested in the w r ork of God,
whether in the Methodist or any other
Church.
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XL.
THE REV. DR. DOUGLAS AN
APPRECIATION.
IT will be seen that the list of ministers
of the Richmond Street Church, previously
referred to, contains the names of some of
the most prominent and able ministers of
the Methodist Church men who have occu
pied some of the most honorable and impor
tant positions in the gift of the Church and
which they have filled with great credit to
themselves and much benefit to the com
munity and whose names are as " household
words." It would not be desirable to
attempt a biographical sketch of any num
ber of these excellent men, as it would
extend these recollections beyond a reason
able length, but I have thought that a brief
and necessarily very inadequate tribute to
one whose memory is held in affection and
admiration by all who knew him would be
appreciated.
I refer to the Rev. George Douglas, LL.D.,
D.D., who was the superintendent minister
of the Toronto West circuit (Richmond,
333
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Queen and Elm Street Churches) in 1857-9.
Dr. Douglas was born in 1825 at Ashkirk,
Roxburghshire, Scotland. His parents were
Presbyterians. The family emigrated from
Scotland to Canada in 1832 and settled in
the city of Montreal. Dr. Douglas early
education was limited. On leaving school
he was employed as an assistant in a Mont
real bookstore, after which he was an
apprentice to the trade of a blacksmith, and
then entered into partnership with his eldest
brother James, who was a carpenter and
builder.
Quoting from Dent s " Canadian Portrait
Gallery " : " Meanwhile he had become an
insatiable reader and devoured with eager
ness whatever books came in his way. His
faculties seemed to have developed some
what late, but before he had reached man
hood his friends and acquaintances began
to recognize the fact that he was endowed
with unusual powers of mind. Upon any
subject which especially attracted his atten
tion he was wont to express himself with an
eloquence and a wealth of illustration such
as is not often heard from a youth imper
fectly educated and who has not enjoyed
the advantage of association with cultured
minds."
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OF TORONTO OF OLD
He and his two brothers, James and John,
were invited to attend a Methodist Sunday
school, and eventually the whole family
drifted into the Methodist fold. During a
great revival in the old St. James Street
Church in 1843 the three boys were con
verted under the preaching of the Rev. Wil
liam Squire and joined the church. George
Douglas then became a class-leader. In
process of time he became a local preacher,
and having passed his theological examina
tions in 1848, when in his twenty-third year,
he was received as a probationer for the
ministry.
" In 1849 he was recommended by the
Lower Canada District to attend the Wes-
leyan Theological Institute at Richmond, in
England," but the missionary secretaries
wanted help for Bermuda and he was spe
cially ordained in March, 1849. and sent
there as a missionary. There he labored
with great acceptance at St. George s, St.
David s, and Hamilton (Rev. Dr. Hugh
Johnston, who spent some weeks in Ber
muda four years ago, states that after sixty
years the name of George Douglas was still
as "ointment poured forth"), but after
about two years labor he was seized with
malarial fever and haemoptysis (or blood
spitting) and was obliged to return home
335
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
to Montreal, assured by his physician that
he would not be able to preach. The next
fall he entered the McGill Medical College,
but after two winters, finding his health
improved, he returned to his loved work of
preaching and supplied the East End church,
Montreal. In June, 1854, he was appointed
to Kingston, where he remained until 1856,
and during his ministry there was united in
marriage to Miss Maria Pearson. He was
then, in 1857, when but thirty-two years of
age, appointed superintendent minister of
the Toronto west circuit, then the most
important one in the Methodist connexion,
comprising the Richmond, Queen and Elm
Street Churches, where he spent three years.
He had already established a reputation
as a powerful and eloquent preacher, which
he more than maintained, and the church in
which it was his turn to preach was almost
always filled. He was tall and of command
ing appearance. He had dark hair, a fine head
and his face indicated the nobility of his
character. He had a marvellous voice such
a one as at once commanded attention. I
do not remember having ever heard one to
equal it. It was full, rich, resonant and yet
most melodious and of great compass, and
when pleading with men it was soft and full
of pathos.
336
OF TORONTO OF OLD
He had a most attractive personality and
great personal magnetism. His naturally
highly-endowed mind was stored with treas
ures from many sources. His lofty flights
of oratory were almost sublime. Sometimes
he poured forth a torrent of eloquence that
stirred the souls of his audience to their
very depths. What he said was always ele
vating and calculated to bring out what was
best in those who heard him. Though his
sermons often contained references which
evidenced that he was a widely-read man
and had " intermeddled with all wisdom," he
was never pedantic. He was a close reasoner
and could demolish the strongholds of
infidelity.
He had a wonderful conception of the
majesty of the Divine Being and of the
grand and beautiful, and had in the highest
degree the quality which the phrenologists
call " sublimity." He was always interest
ing and never commonplace, but it was his
qualities as a man and his devotion as a
Christian and a Christian minister that
called forth my highest admiration. It was
impossible to conceive of George Douglas
condescending to anything that was not
high or noble. He was always aboveboard
and hated shams, and would administer
scathing rebukes to those who were guilty
22 337
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
of deception or trickery; but he was most
sympathetic toward those who were in
trouble or distress, and was humble-minded
notwithstanding his great popularity, never
thrusting himself forward.
He had a sense of humor, but I never
heard him joke; as for trifling, that was
impossible for him. I have heard Dr. Pun-
shon lecture and preach, but, eminent as
he was both as a lecturer and preacher, and
though I was profoundly impressed, edified
and charmed by his discourses, in my
humble judgment his eloquence did not
reach the heights of that of Doctor Douglas,
nor had he his magnificent voice.
Doctor Douglas held the highest offices
within the gift of the Church President of
the Montreal Conference in 1877 and of the
General Conference in 1878. The honorary
degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the
McGill University of Montreal in 1870. He
had an international reputation and had
been deputed to represent the Church at the
great ecclesiastical gatherings of Christen
dom, amongst these the Young Men s Chris
tian Association International Conventions
at Washington, Philadelphia, Indianapolis
and Chicago; at the Evangelical Alliance
and at the General Conference of the Meth-
338
OF TOKONTO OF OLD
odist Episcopal Church in the southern
States.
It was while in Toronto that the dire
effects of the malarial poison began to mani
fest themselves, causing atrophy of the
nerves and muscles and destroying sensation
and the power to use the pen with his right
hand. He then learned to write with his left
hand, and when this too lost its cunning he
employed an ingeniously constructed writ
ing-machine. Quoting from a letter received
from the Rev. Dr. Hugh Johnston (now of
Baltimore), who was his junior colleague
in the Griffintown Church, Montreal, and
who ever after was a close personal friend :
" At this time he was told by Doctor Brown-
Sequard, the great nerve specialist, what
was before him, not immediate death but
ever-growing infirmity. He filled out his
three years in Hamilton, and after a year
of retirement was appointed to Griffintown
Church, Montreal.
" After three years he was called, in 1867,
to the great St. James Street Church (Mont
real ) .
" In 1870-3 he had charge of the Dominion
Square and St. Joseph Street Churches,
when he was called to the newly-established
Wesleyan Theological College of Montreal.
. About this time the deepest of
339
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
shadows fell upon him the dreadful disease
which had deprived him of sensation in his
limbs and made it difficult for him to get
about now invaded his sight. Crushed and
broken, he was not forsaken, but was able
to accept the Divine will.
" Removed from the outer world, he had
rich visions of the unseen and eternal, and
his patience and resignation of spirit were
complete. Thus he lived and labored and
suffered, and perhaps exerted the greatest,
deepest, most beneficial, most abiding influ
ence on the Church when responding to the
calls for service, his devoted wife being ever
at his side and his daughters being eyes and
hands to him in the library and in the home.
" A great sorrow fell upon the Methodist
world and upon the Church of God on earth
when on February 10th, 1894, he passed
from us. But for him the veil was rent
asunder and he saw with undimmed vision
the King in His beauty and heard the
bells of the Holy City the chimes of eternal
peace. "
Doctor Douglas preached on the evening
of June llth, 1893, in the Metropolitan
Church, when I had the privilege of being
present. His text was Romans 15: 30:
" Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord
Jesus Christ s sake, and for the love of the
340
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Spirit, that ye strive together with me in
your prayers to God for me." One of his
hymns was the 470th, beginning with the
words, " Oh, for a faith that will not
shrink." He was truly a pathetic, yet a
heroic figure. Totally blind, he had to be
helped to the platform. One arm was ban
daged and useless. His imperial intellect
was as clear as ever and there was not much
change in his voice, though his utterances
were sometimes a little thick, but his elo
quence held the congregation spellbound.
It was a heroic and magnificent effort and
his last message to that congregation, and
produced a profound impression.
After the service his friends pressed
around to greet him, and w r hen I shook his
hand and gave him my name I shall never
forget the kindly, affectionate tone with
which he greeted me and his apparent utter
self-forgetfulness. Nine months after this
he passed away to his reward. The words of
Antony regarding Brutus can be appropri
ately applied to him : " His life was gentle ;
and the elements so mixed in him, that
nature might stand up and say to all the
world, This was a man ! " Still better than
this, " He was a Christian."
341
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
CHAPTER XLI.
THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH.
IT was not my intention to carry my recol
lections later on than fifty years ago, except
ing by very brief references, but as the
Metropolitan Methodist Church is the suc
cessor of the Adelaide Street Church, which
was the successor of the old King Street
Church, built in 1818 (the oldest Methodist
Church in Toronto), and as the building of
the Metropolitan was quite an epoch in
Canadian Methodism, I have considered that
I should make an exception with regard
to it.
The origin of the undertaking is very
interesting. The idea of purchasing the
McGill Square for the purpose of building
a church thereon originated in the mind of
the late Rev. Dr. Anson Green. The Bank
of Montreal held a mortgage of $25,000 on
the property and had taken possession of it
and offered to dispose of it to the city for
a city hall for the amount of the mortgage.
The council, thinking that the bank wanted
to " unload on them," held back their accep-
342
OF TORONTO OF OLD
tance, and made some reflections upon the
General Manager, Mr. King, who, being
incensed at their conduct, withdrew the
offer and declined having any further nego
tiations with them. Doctor Green had seen
the account of this decision in a morning-
paper, and when walking down Church
Street past the property, the thought sud
denly struck him, "Would not this be a
splendid property on which to build a
Methodist church?" The more he thought
about it the more the impression took hold
of him. Meeting Mr. Benjamin Walton,
the builder, he mentioned the matter to
him, and Mr. Walton was so favorably
impressed with the idea that he told Doctor
Green that he might put his name down for
a subscription of f 1,000. A little further on
the Doctor met Mr. David Thurston, the
then United States Consul, and mentioned
the matter to him, and he too offered a sub
scription of the same amount. Doctor
Green then consulted Doctor Ryerson, who
at once became favorably impressed, and
together they called on Rev. Morley Pun-
shon, and the project received his immediate
approval.
A meeting of a number of the promin
ent Methodists belonging to the various
churches was called and the matter laid
343
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
before them and enthusiastically received.
Other subscriptions were offered and a deci
sion arrived at to purchase the property.
Negotiations were entered into with the
manager of the Toronto branch of the bank,
Mr. Yarker, and an option given to purchase
the property for the amount of the mort
gage. On September 16th, 1868, the day
the option expired, the Rev. Dr. Ryerson and
Mr. A. W. Lauder called upon the manager
and asked for an extension of time but were
informed that unless the offer was at once
accepted and an instalment of $5,000 paid,
it would be withdrawn, as there were others
ready to purchase the property at an
advanced price. Finding a postponement
beyond that day (Saturday, one o clock)
could not be obtained, these two gentlemen
then gave their personal cheques for $2,500
each, and the transaction was closed forth
with, the deed being made to the Rev. Dr.
Lachlan Taylor. (I am indebted to Mr.
T. G. Mason for most of the above informa
tion. )
As a matter of course, a very large
amount of work and responsibility rested
upon the committee, of which the Reverend
Morley Punshon was chairman and Mr. W.
T. Mason became secretary-treasurer, and
it must be said that both of these gentlemen
344
OF TORONTO OF OLD
went most enthusiastically into the work,
involving so much labor and executive
ability, and to them in a large degree is
due the successful carrying out and com
pletion of this great undertaking. The
hardest part of the work, involving the
supervision of the building operations and
the various payments in connection with
the construction of the building, devolved
upon Mr. Mason, to whom the church is
greatly indebted.
Designs for this new church were adver
tised for, and finally those prepared by Mr.
Henry Langley were adopted and the lump
tender of $69,000 of Mr. Joseph Gearing
accepted. Later on, however, it was found
necessary to add an additional |8,000 to
complete the building. The Adelaide Street
property had been sold for $15,000, and at
the time of the laying of the corner-stone
$27,000 had been subscribed. The corner
stone was laid by the Rev. Dr. Ryerson on
August 24th, 1870, with appropriate cere
monies before a large concourse of people,
amongst whom were the Revs. Morley Pun-
shon, Evans, Green, Ryerson, Wood and
Dr. Jennings (of the United Presbyterian
Church), and Revs. Messrs. Rose, Suther
land, Cochran, Dewart, Barrass and F. H.
Marling (of the Congregational Church),
:5 1 r>
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
and W. W. Ross, and Messrs. W. T. Mason,
Judge Duggan, A. W. Lauder and A. H.
Dyrnond. Pending the completion of the
building, the Adelaide Street Church having
been disposed of, the congregation wor
shipped in a large wooden tabernacle erected
on the southern end of the lot near Queen
Street.
The following is the inscription on the
scroll in the urn placed in a cavity of the
corner-stone :
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO.
On this, the twenty-fourth day of August, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventy, being the thirty-third year of the reign of
Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, the cor
ner-stone of this edifice, to be used for the worship
of Almighty God, and known as the " Metropolitan
Wesleyan Methodist Church," McGill Square, Toronto,
was laid in the name of the Holy Trinity, with due
solemnity and with appropriate religious services by
the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D., LL.D., Chief Super
intendent of Education for the Province of Ontario.
OFFICEKS OF THE CONFERENCE.
Rev. W. Morley Punshon, M.A., President of the
Conference.
Rev. Ephraim Evans, D.D., Co-Delegate.
Rev. Alexander Sutherland, Secretary of the Confer
ence.
Rev. Samuel Rose, Book Steward.
Rev. Edward Hartley Dewart, Editor.
Rev. Enoch Wood, D.D.
Rev. Lachlan Taylor, D.D.
Secretaries of Missions.
346
OF TORONTO OF OLD
RESIDENT MINISTEKS OF TORONTO.
Rev. George Cochran (Toronto East).
Rev. Alexander Sutherland (Toronto West).
Rev. Hugh Johnston, M.A. (Toronto West).
Rev. W. Smith Griffin (Toronto North).
Rev. E. Evans, D.D. (Yorkville).
Rev. W. W. Ross (Berkeley Street).
Rev. E. Evans, D.D., Chairman of Toronto District.
Rev. George Cochran, Financial Secretary.
TRUSTEES* OF THE CHURCH.
Rev. W. Morley Punshon, Charles Moore.
M.A. John Morphy.
Rev. Egerton Ryerson, John Rowland.
D.D. George Flint.
Rev. Anson Green, D.D. John Segsworth.
Rev. Enoch Wood, D.D. John Garvin.
Rev. Lachlan Taylor, D.D. James Myles.
Rev. Samuel Rose. James Paterson.
John Macdonald. Thomas G. Mason.
Abram W. Lauder, M.P.P. Edward Leadley.
William T. Aikins, M.D. Rev. George Cochran, as
William T. Mason. superintendent min-
John Charlesworth. ister of the Toronto
East Circuit.
ARCHITECT. CONTRACTOR.
Mr. Henry Langley. Mr. Joseph Gearing.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL or THE DOMINION OF CANADA.
His Excellency Sir John Young, Bart., K.C.B.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF ONTARIO.
Hon. William Pierce Howland.
MAYOR OF TORONTO.
Samuel Bickerton Harman, Esquire.
* Of the above named Mr. T. G. Mason is now (1914)
the only survivor.
347
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
The following is from a very full report
of the impressive dedicatory services held on
April 4th, 1872, published in the Mail of the
5th of that month :
The church was crowded "in every cor
ner." The Rev. Mr. Punshon entered the
church, accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Tif
fany, of Newark, N. J. ; the Rev. Enoch Wood,
Secretary of the Missionary Society; the
Rev. Dr. Ryerson, Chief Superintendent of
Education ; the Rev. Dr. Green, the Rev. Dr.
Taylor and the Rev. Mr. Cochran, minister
of the Metropolitan Church, with several
others, clergymen and laymen.
The Rev. Messrs. Punshon, Tiffany and
Wood took seats upon the platform, while
the others occupied places within the altar
rail.
The Rev. Mr. Punshon opened the dedica
tory services according to the prescribed
form.
After the singing of a hymn an extempore
prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Wood.
After the singing of another hymn the
sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr.
Tiffany.
On the conclusion of the sermon, prayer
was offered by Mr. Punshon.
A collection was then taken up, under
stood to be $360.
348
OF TORONTO OF OLD
Mr. Punshon then made a further and spe
cial appeal to the congregation; he stated
"that the entire edifice, together with the
ground it stood upon, had cost f 133,000, and
that |60,000 of that amount had already
been provided for, leaving $72,000 or $73,000
yet to be raised. Supposing it possible to
carry on the services of the church with a
debt of $50,000, that would leave $22,000 or
$23,000 to be obtained to-day," and he
expressed the belief that with God s aid they
would be able to get the amount required.
Mr. David Preston, of Detroit, was intro
duced and made a stirring appeal to the
assemblage to raise some $24,000 before
leaving the building, and by two o clock
$21,000 had been subscribed.
Another crowded meeting was held in
the evening, when further contributions of
$5,150 were received, which, added to the
$21,100 taken up in the morning; $360 in the
morning open collection; $1,000, the esti
mated proceeds of the sale of tickets; and
$500, the estimated returns of the bazaar
sales, brought up the total contributions of
the day to the princely sum of $28,110.
Subsequently, contributions brought up the
amount to $32,000. At this meeting the
chair was taken by Mr. John Macdonald,
who delivered an address, as did also Mr.
349
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Punshon, who said that of the f 60,000 paid
prior to the dedication services, only $3,000
had been subscribed by outsiders. There
was a grand musical service, and these not
able meetings were brought to a close by
singing the National Anthem. Here, it may
be mentioned that the Young Men s McGill
Square Association undertook to provide the
organ, then one of the largest in Ontario.
Since the erection of the church the build
ing containing the lecture-room and parlors
has been greatly enlarged, important altera
tions have been made to the interior of the
church, including the building of a magnifi
cent new organ (the gift of Mrs. Massey-
Treble), the whole of these alterations
together involving an expense of tens of
thousands of dollars. In addition a hand
some and commodious parsonage, com
pletely furnished, the gift of Mr. Chester
Massey, has been erected within the church
grounds. The church, situated in the centre
of a magnificent square of nearly three
acres, is, with perhaps the exception of the
St. James Church in Montreal, the largest
and finest Methodist church in the world,
and is one of the most prominent architec
tural objects in the city. The building of
the church has exerted a wide influence
towards the improvement of other church
350
OF TORONTO OF OLD
edifices, not only in the city but throughout
the country. It has had a succession of
eminent ministers, who have proclaimed the
truths of the Gospel with faithfulness and
power, and great good has resulted from
their ministrations. The church has exerted
a great moral and spiritual influence upon
the surrounding neighborhood, and while
most of its original members have passed
away and a number of its strongest sup
porters have removed from the locality, the
church, which may now be called a " down
town " church, has a great mission and is
now doing a most important work in the
neighborhood. While the morning congre
gation is largely composed of members of the
church, the evening services are crowded by
many who would probably not otherwise
have heard the Gospel, including a great
number of young men. The church is
entirely free from debt and there is doubt
less before it a great future in many direc
tions, especially in carrying on institutional
work.
The following is a list of the pastors of the
church: George Cochran, 1870; John Potts,
D.D., 1873; William Briggs, D.D., 1876;
John Potts, D.D., 1879; Hugh Johnston,
M.A., B.D., 1882; Ezra A. Stafford, M.A.,
LL.B., 1885; Leroy Hooker, 1888; John V.
351
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
Smith, B.D., 1891 ; James Allen, M.A., 1894 ;
R. P. Bowles, M.A., B.D., 1897; William
Sparling, B.A., B.D., 1901 ; Solomon Cleaver,
M.A., B.D., 1905; W. L. Armstrong, B.A.,
D.D., 1909; J. W. Aikens, 1913.
The following comprise the present board
of trustees: T. G. Mason, Edward Gurney,
Dr. E. J. Barrick, A. J. Mason, Dr. J. B.
Willmott, B. E. Bull, George Kerr, Hon.
J. J. Maclaren, F. Roper, A. W, Carrick,
C. D. Massey, W. H. Pearson, G. H. Parkes,
T. H. Mason, A. R. Clarke, N. W. Rowell,
K.C., H. C. Cox, W. P. Gundy, W. G.
Francis, C. Vincent Massey.
Superintendents of the Sunday School:
Thomas Nixon, 1872 ; James Paterson, 1872 ;
J. B. Boustead, 1879; Alexander Mills,
1891; A. W. Carrick, 1894; H. S. Park,
1905 ; R. Burrow, 1911 ; H. S. Park, 1913.
The organists of the church : - - Turvey,
1872; Dr. F. H. Torrington, 1873-1907;
H. A. Wheeldon, Mus.Bac. (Cantab.), 1907-
1913; T. J. Palmer, A.R.C.O., 1913.
Choirmaster: A. L. E. Davies, 1910.
352
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XLII.
THE YOUNG MEN S CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATION.
As is generally known, this important and
valuable institution was formed by Sir
George Williams in London in 1844, and
which from very small beginnings has its
ramifications through most of the civilized
countries in the world. The knowledge of
this work came to America in 1851 at three
different centres Montreal, Boston and
New York. To Montreal belongs the honor
of forming the first Young Men s Christian
Association in America, the Rev. F. H. Mar
ling, the minister of the first Congregational
Church in Toronto, being the chairman of
the meeting for its organization.
In 1853 Mr. John Holland, who had been
the recording secretary of the Nasmith
Society in Montreal (an association of a
somewhat similar character to the Young
Men s Christian Association, organized in
Montreal by Mr. David Nasmith), removed
to Toronto and in December of that year
organized a Young Men s Christian Associa-
23 353
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
tion and became its secretary. The meeting
for the organization was held in Mr. Hol
land s house on the north side of King
Street, between Church and Toronto Streets,
and regular meetings were afterwards held
in the Mechanics* Institute, Court Street.
(Mr. Holland was from 1854 to 1856 super
intendent of the Richmond Street Methodist
Sunday School.) When several Toronto
churches organized their own Young Men s
Associations the movement languished, and
after about four years the Association dis
banded. The work of the first Association
was chiefly devotional and evangelistic.
The officers of the Association for 1855
were : President, John Holland ; First Vice-
President, Matthew Sweetnam; Second
Vice-President, James Boyd; Treasurer,
Alexander Christie; Corresponding Secre
tary, Charles R. Brooke; Recording Secre
tary, W. Russell Ross.
The committee was made up of the follow
ing : Messrs. J. A. Creighton, James Whyte,
G. H. Cornish, T. Sellar, Thomas Saunders,
John Forsyth, George Carey, R. Reynolds,
William Forest, James Thorn, Robert
Wilkes, A. C. Scarth.
From " The Historical Sketch " of the
Toronto Young Men s Christian Association,
354
OF TORONTO OF OLD
just published, we learn that, according to
an unpublished letter from Mr. F. W. King-
stone, and from which most of the above
information has been obtained, a Young
Men s Christian Association was first
formed in connection with the St. James
Cathedral in 1861, the meetings of which
were held in the basement of the old Sunday
school building at the corner of Adelaide
and Church Streets.
Mr. Kingstone says : " Mr. Robert Bald
win (a son of the Honorable Robert Bald
win), with perhaps the assistance of one of
the other members of the Association, was
in the habit of visiting the sailors of the dif
ferent vessels at Toronto on Sunday morn
ings and getting them to attend service on
board one of the ships in the harbor, and
occasionally he was able to get a clergyman
to preach to them. Some of the other mem
bers, including myself, used to attend at the
hospitals and read to the patients there on
Sunday afternoons, and I think there were
also some others who attended at the jail
for the same purpose."
Some time afterwards Mr. Baldwin went
to Mr. Kingstone and told him that he had
been talking to some other young men
belonging to other denominations with a
23a 356
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
view to forming an undenominational
Young Men s Christian Association. At
Mr. Baldwin s request Mr. Kingstone accom
panied him to the residence of Mr. James
Campbell, a well-known bookseller, to dis
cuss the matter of the organization of an
undenominational Young Men s Christian
Association. Mr. John Campbell (after
wards Professor Campbell, of Montreal)
was present at this interview.
" A constitution and by-laws were adopted
at a later meeting. The first permanent
officers of the Association, in 1864, were:
President, Robert Baldwin; First Vice-
President, A. W. Lauder ; Second Vice-Presi
dent, David Fotheringham ; Secretary, John
Campbell ; Treasurer, A. Savage. The manag
ing committee: Messrs. Kingstone, Squire,
Adams, McCord, McDonald and Bain.
"About a dozen persons were present at
this meeting, which was held in Mr. Camp
bell s home. Among them were Messrs.
Robert Baldwin, John Campbell, F. W.
Kingstone, barrister; Mr. (afterwards Rev.)
George H. Squire, Methodist minister; Mr.
(afterwards Rev. Dr.) J. Monro Gibson, of
London, England; and Mr. David Fother
ingham, afterwards Inspector of Schools for
North York.
356
OF TOBONTO OF OLD
"After securing information as to the
working of similar associations elsewhere, a
second meeting was held three weeks later
at Mr. Baldwin s residence, 65 Shuter
Street. It was not considered advisable,
however, to formally organize until a year
later, prayer-meetings meanwhile being held
in the basement of Temperance Hall on
Temperance Street. On the 18th February,
1864, the organization was formally com
pleted. The first annual business meeting
was held on November 1st of that year,
when Professor Daniel Wilson was elected
President."
The first meetings of the Association were
held in the Temperance Hall on Temperance
Street in 1864, and in 1865 the Association
moved to rented rooms (151 Yonge Street),
and in 1868 met at 34 King Street East.
In the same year the Association was incor
porated and in 1869 the first General Secre
tary, Mr. Thomas J. Wilkie, was appointed.
In 1872 Shaftesbury Hall, at the north-east
corner of Queen and James Street, was
built. In 1882 the West End branch was
formed. In 1887 the Young Men s Christian
Association Building was erected at the
corner of Yonge and McGill Streets, and
in 1913 the splendid new Central Branch
building was opened,
357
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
I remember the beginning of the Young
Men s Christian Association in Toronto in
1853, and was personally acquainted with a
number of those who took part in its organi
zation. I often met Mr. Robert Baldwin,
whose self-sacrificing efforts and devotion
won my admiration.
358
OF TORONTO OF OLD
CHAPTER XLIII.
TORONTO OF TO-DAY.
WERE a former resident of Toronto, who
had not been there for say twenty-five years,
or even less, to visit it at the present time
he would have difficulty in recognizing it
as the same place, so great have been the
changes that have taken place in its
appearance.
That Toronto is now an important city
will not be questioned. As to population
(approximately 500,000) it may be classed
with such cities as Detroit, Buffalo, Pitts-
burg, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and
during the past four years has grown more
rapidly than any of these cities with the
exception of Los Angeles. It has a greater
population than that of St. Louis (460,357),
Boston (416,507), Baltimore (433,639), in
1890, and is about equal to that of Chicago
(503,185) in 1880. It has become an impor
tant commercial, financial, educational,
manufacturing, musical and religious cen
tre. Its numerous and varied industries are
expanding and new ones are being con-
359
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
stantly added. Palatial financial and com
mercial buildings, some of them skyscrapers,
have been erected, in many instances replac
ing large and substantial structures which a
few years since were of ample capacity and
were looked upon with pride by the citizens ;
and now more skyscrapers, loftier than the
others, are being built.
Toronto has for some time been noted for
its attractive private residences, which are
rapidly increasing. In the outlying sections
of the city buildings are going up like mush
rooms, and where a year or two since there
was nothing but open fields, now rows upon
rows of buildings cover the ground ; in fact,
the whole aspect of some localities has been
changed in less than a year.
To mention some of Toronto s specialties :
Its National Exhibition is unequalled by
any annual exhibition on the continent as to
its buildings, variety of exhibits and attend
ance. One of its departmental stores ranks
amongst the largest in America. Its postal
business is by far the largest in Canada. It
is noted as a great convention city. Many
of its numerous educational institutions and
churches are large and architecturally beau
tiful buildings. Its streets are well paved
and well kept, and the numerous shade trees
360
OF TORONTO OF OLD
which line most of its residential streets add
greatly to their attractiveness.
It is estimated that within the next ten
years the enormous sum of $100,000,000 will
be spent on great civic improvements. This
will include the new Union Station and
improvements on the water-front, the estab
lishment of great industrial areas with
water and rail facilities, the filling in of
Ashbridge s Bay providing for scores of
large industrial establishments, the con
struction of magnificent boulevards from
the Don to the Humber, a splendid new
North Toronto station for the Canadian
Pacific Railway Company, the new Bloor
Street viaduct to link up the centre and
eastern sections of the city. Within the
next four years Toronto will spend $15,000,-
000 in the construction of trunk and lateral
sewers in the newer districts of the city;
$8,000,000 for water-works extension and
$1,000,000 for a mechanical filtration plant
at the Island. Hundreds of thousands of
dollars will be spent upon the construction
of encircling boulevards and the creation of
new park areas. With the completion of the
Harbor Board s developments Toronto will
have fourteen miles of water-front drive
ways across the city front and around the
Island. There will also be the widening of
361
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
north Yonge Street and Teraulay Street.
When all of this is completed- Toronto will
be one of the most attractive cities in
America.
It is gratifying to know that Toronto has
a number of wealthy citizens whose munifi
cent contributions, in addition to those of
the less wealthy, towards religious, philan
thropic and educational purposes have made
it possible to erect and furnish some of the
magnificent buildings to promote these
objects, and that some of them not only con
tribute of their means, but give unstinted
service in their management.
Probably few cities of its size are doing
more than Toronto in caring for the indi
gent, helpless and sick, as is evidenced by its
numerous hospitals and philanthropic insti
tutions. Its new hospital claimed to be
one of the best equipped in the world is
a monument of the liberality, self-sacrificing
and unremitting efforts of some of its
prominent citizens.
While Toronto cannot be claimed to be
what it has sometimes been called, " Toronto
the Good -there are far too many existing
evils for that yet if church attendance is
any criterion of the religious condition of
the people, it certainly occupies a favorable
position as compared with many other cities.
362
OF TORONTO OF OLD
And a factor which has caused surprise to
American visitors has been the large propor
tion of men in the congregations in contrast
with the small number who attend most of
the churches in the United States Los
Angeles being a notable exception.
Certainly a great deal is being done for
the spiritual interests of the community by
the many earnest ministers and numerous
laymen in its over two hundred and fifty
churches, fifty missions, the Salvation Army
and the Young Men s and Young Women s
Christian Associations. But there is much
ground yet to be covered.
While the city fathers do not always dis
play great capacity and wisdom in conduct
ing the city s business, it is gratifying that
for a long time there have been few if any
known instances of graft on their part. And
it is also pleasing to note that amongst them
are some energetic, enterprising and capable
men, men of wide vision, w r ho are giving
their best energies in the promotion of the
interests of the city.
There is much more extravagance and
luxury in evidence and much keener compe
tition than when Toronto was younger.
There is also much more of the speculative
and gambling spirit, a much greater appar
ent desire " to get rich quick," and a greater
363
RECOLLECTIONS AND RECORDS
craving for excitement and love oi amuse
ments. It is said that Toronto for its size has
the largest matinee attendance of any city in
America. It is, however, very questionable
whether there is as much real enjoyment as
in the simpler and freer life of the old slow-
going days.
The city has tremendously serious prob
lems for solution. There are the slums in
their overcrowded and unsanitary condi
tions to be cleaned out; the building of
dwelling-houses of a suitable character, so
urgently needed for those of but limited
means; adequate transportation for those
who live in the outlying districts; a large
additional number of supervised play
grounds for the multitudes of children, for
whom the only place to play is the streets;
the abolition of the bar, that great source
of drunkenness and immorality ; the caring
for the spiritual interests, the Canadianiza-
tion and the raising of the moral standards
of the multitudes of foreigners who are
crowding into the city, a work of great
responsibility, devolving principally upon
the churches and schools. These, after
all, are the most important matters to be
dealt with if our city is to become great in
the highest and best sense.
364
OF TORONTO OF OLD
What Toronto will be in the future, of
course, largely depends upon what is done
now by those placed in positions of trust
and authority. That it will become a very
large city is evident, but will it become a
more law-abiding and moral, a more reli
gious one? Will there be less poverty, better
provision made for the comfort and well-
being of the community?
365
INDEX
PAGE
Adelaide Street Methodist Church, list of members 288
Allan, The Hon. Wm 41, 56
Armstrong-, J. R., Jr 114
Bapot, Sir Charles 138
Baldwin, Mrs. John S., residence
Baldwin, Rev. Edmund
Baldwin, Morgan
Baldwin, Bishop Maurice
Baldwin, Arthur H 55
Baldwin, Hon. Robert
Baldwin, Robert 355
Bank of B. N. A., 1830 40
Bank of Upper Canada 54
Baptist Church
Some of its early ministers
Officials in 1856 and 1913
March Street, some prominent members 298
Barron, F. W 114
Berczy, Charles 176, 202-205
Bethune, Donald 191
Boulton, Wm. H 110
Bowes. John G 192
Boyd s Commercial Academy 103, 231
Brantford, incidents and the military
Brent, J. W 273
Brunell, Alfred
Buchanan, Isaac 130
Burns, Rev. Dr. Robert 149
Burnside, Dr 73
Canada Co. s office 41, 79
Capreol, F. C 17, 194
" Cherokee," man-of-war 140
Chichester, Sir Charles 139, 154
Churches and ministers in 1850 240
Churches
Relative position in 1850
Character of services 244
Social status of adherents
Comparative statement of membership 252
367
INDEX
PAGE
Clarke, Dr. J. J., Mus. Bach 149, 214
Clarke, Thomas 301
Cockshutt, Ignatius 21
Codd, Misses 90
Coinage and currency in 1847 178
Colored population 167
Consumers Gas Co.
Comparative statements 206
List of Presidents 208
Congregational Church 65
Counter, John (Kingston) 135
Gulp, Rev David 284
Cull, John Angel
Cumberland and Ridout
Custom House staff in 1845 173
Dick, Captain Thomas
Dixon, John 145
Doel, John 68, 285
Doel, Rev. John
Douse, Rev. John 330
Dunn, Hon. J. H ISO
Dwight, H. P 187
Easson, R. F 187
Election, 1841 130
Election. 1841, list of prominent voters 131
Ellis, John 213
Elm Street Methodist Church
Some prominent members 290
Orierinal trustees 290
Some earlv ministers of 291
Flmsley, Hon. John 101, 191
Elmsley Villa 101, 161
Express business, inauguration of 172
"FVnton. John, biographical sketch 255
First railway in Canada 191
Freer, F/dward S.. first Post Offlr Inspector IRS
Funeral, a remarkable 288
FurniRS, Albert 201
Fyfe, Rev. R. A., D.D 295
Gamble, Clarke 132
Gearing-, Joseph 345
George Street Methodist Chapel SO
Good, James 59, 192
Gough, John B 235
Grange, The 110
Grasett, Rev. H. J 266
Green, Rev. Dr. Anson 342
Guthrie s Grammar 16
368
INDEX
PAGE
Half- way-house
Harper, John
Harris, Thomas D 185
Harrison, Robert A 146
Harte s School 51,143
Harvie, John 193
Henrietta Street
Heron, Andrew 191
Holy Trinity Church
Endowment of 271
List of rectors 274
Ministers and officers of, in 1913 274
Holland, John 353
Honstein, John 61
Hopper, Mrs. R. P 277
Hornby, Dr. Reginald 105
Humphrey, J. D 56, 215
Illuminating gas, discovery of 200
Immigration, 1840-1851 163
Jackson, Maunsell B 21, 146
Jail, the old County 91
Jarvis, 3. P
Jennings, the Rev. Dr. John 150
Johnston, Rev. Hugh 335
Kane, Paul 217
Keating, Michael 141
Ketchum, Jesse 95, 28F>
Kidd, John 91
King s College 60
Kingstone, F. W 355
Kingston first Parliament held there 13fi
Klnnear, Thomas, murder of 195
Knox Church 149
Lady Elgin 192
Lancers, The 128
Langley, Henry 345
Latham, Jacob 53
Lander. A. W 344
Lawson, Robert 299
Lawson, "William 274
Licenses, comparative statement of
Lind, Jenny 216
Mackenzie. "William Lyon 105
Magrath, Major Thomas 12?
Magrath, Captain James 128
Market, The 30
Mason, T. G 344
Mason, W. T 344
2* 369
INDEX
PAGE
Massey, Chester 350
Mercer, Andrew 47
Metcalf e, Sir Charles 139
Methodist Church
First in Toronto 283
Rules regarding amusements 249
Condition of membership 249
Metropolitan Methodist Church
List of ministers 351
Trustees in 1914 352
Superintendent of Sunday school and organist. . . 352
" Minos," man-of-war 141
Monro, George 29, 130
Moodie, Mrs. Susanna 211
Morrison, Hon. J. C 194
Morrison, Dr. Thomas D 285
Murdock, "William, discoverer of illuminating gas. 200
McCaul, Rev. Dr. John 213
Nationalities of Toronto, comparative statement.. 163
Nationalities of Upper Canada in 1848 165
Nationalities of French and English Canadians in
Lower Canada cities, etc 166
North American Hotel 33
Ocean voyage, 1834 11
O Connor, Matthew 152
Ontario House 44
Osgoode Hall 59
Osgoode, Thaddeus 285
Palaco of the Bishop of Toronto 38
Palmer, Kli J 219
Patrick, W. P 285
Pearson, Thomas 11, 172, 1 82
Petch, Robert 64, 283, 286
Philharmonic Society, first organized in Toronto. . . 213
Philharmonic Society, 1871. first officers 213
Post Office
In 1839 35
Description thereof in 1847 175
Staff in 1847 17fi
Transfer to Canadian Government 182
Postage
Rates of 177
Reduction in, to 3d 183
Stamps, introduction of 177
Primitive Methodist Chapel 103
Primitive Methodist Church
Origin 274
First building 1 276
Second and third building 279
370
INDEX
PAGE
Prince of Wales, celebration on news of his birth. . 140
Privat, Louis, hotel 112
Punch in Canada 179
Punshon, Rev. Dr 345
Queen s College, incorporation of 221
Queen Street Methodist Church
Some early ministers 292
Original trustees of 293
Sunday school superintendents 294
Rainsford, Rev. W. S 244
Regiopolis College, incorporation of 222
Reminiscences of election of 1841 131
Richardson, Captain Hugh 32
Richmond Street Methodist Church
First trustees 302
Colored 303
Sunday school valedictory services 306
List of ministers 311
Sunday school superintendents 312
Sunday school, former scholars, ministers of the
Gospel 312
Early pewholders 313
Trustees In 1887 315
Roaf, Rev. John 65
Robinson, Chief Justice Sir J. B 76
Robinson, Sir James Lukin 77
Robinson, Hon. John Beverley 77
Robinson, Christopher 77
Robinson, Mrs. John Beverley 215
Ros<?dale, residence of Sheriff Jarvis 118
Royal Floating Baths 35
Royal Welsh Fusiliers 134
Ryerson, Rev. George 104
Ryerson, Rev. Dr. Egerton 344, 345
Rykert, Charles J 70
Scadding, Dr. Henry 15, 54, 272
Schools in 1840 231
Scotch element in business 168
Shaw, Miss 55
Sherwood, Hon. Henry 130
Sherwood, Samuel 33
Stanton, Robert 182
Stayner, Thomas Allen, Deputy Postmaster General 176
Steamer " Britannia " 22
Stennett, Rev Walter 272
Strachan, Bishop 265
Strathy, Dr. G. W 213
Stoyles, Dr. Thomas 285
St. Andrew s Church
St. George s Church, a grand musical service 149
371
INDEX
St. James" Cathedral PAGK
Some original pewholdere 254
Its first incumbent and churchwardens 255
Destruction by fire in 1839 and 1849 261
Laying 1 of corner-stone 261
Clock 262
List of rectorb 265
Clergy and churchwardens in 1913 266
Choir in 1843 267
St. Michael s Cathedral, incidents excavating foun
dation thereof 151
Taylor, Mrs. S. B 288
Temperance Society, first organization 238
Thomas, William 152
Thompson, Charles 31
Thomoson, Thomas 275
Thomson, Sir Charles Poulett 136
Thurston, David 343
Tiffany, Rev. Dr 348
Tilt, James 146
Toronto
Origin of name 15
In 1839 22
University building 223
University, President of 225
University, federated institutions 223
Academy 231
Towler, Mrs 277
Townsend, J. T. 188
Toye, Benjamin B 187
Travelling in 1834 15, 17
Treble, Mrs. Massc-y- 350
Trinity College, original trustees of 227
Tully, Kivas 148, 226
Turner, Robert John 61
United Presbyterian Church 149
University of Toronto 220
Upper Canada Academy, incorporation of 221
Victoria College, Principals and Chancellors of . . 227
Walker, Robert 275
Walton, Benjamin 343
Weller, William 31
Whitley, Mrs., boarding-house 69
Whittemore, E. F 75, 205, 206
Widmer, Dr. Christopher 28
Wild pigeons 51
Wilkie, Thomas J 357
Wilkinson, Rev. Henry 330
Wiman, Erastus 145
Y.M.C.A.
Officers in 1855 354
Officers jn 1864 356
372
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